Democracy Day – An Aligning of the Stars

Oh my. What a day September 25 was for the entire Fort Worth Country Day community. Initiated by History Department Chair Colin Douglas ‘06 through a Summer Fellows curriculum project he hosted in 2023 and led in the Lower School by Head Librarian Tammy Wolford and in the Middle School by Fifth Grade Humanities Teacher Dr. Tammy Craddock, Democracy Day exceeded our very high expectations. 

Bottom line: Every child at the School had an age-appropriate experience on September 25 that highlighted the invaluable characteristics of a democracy, particularly the democracy of the United States of America. 

In Lower School, students were treated to a brilliant performance by nine faculty penguins based on the book The King Penguin by Vanessa Roeder. The King (Assistant Head of Lower School Meredith Cunningham ’04) had to be educated by her fellow penguins that rule by a King was nowhere near as effective as decision-making that invited input from community members. Lower School students had a red, white and blue out-of-uniform privilege; they waved American Flags going from one venue to another; they honored a color guard from TCU’s ROTC; and, to end their special assembly, they enjoyed Ray Charles’s powerful rendition of “America the Beautiful” with accompanying images of people and places across our amazing country.

In Middle School, students in their advisory groups represented the 38 states in a raucous and thrilling convention in the Amon G. Foundations Carter Commons as they focused on the presidential election of 1888 (Benjamin Harrison, played by Mars McWaters ’29,  vs. Grover Cleveland, played by Morgan Gatzke ’29) with games and workshops and, finally, a roll call demonstrating the difference between the popular vote and the electoral college. 

The Upper School hosted several visitors who spoke, as well as provided presentations on 26 different topics, including Hamilton’s Debates, Texas Politics in Motion, Paris: Birthplace of the U.S., The Art of Disagreement: Jefferson and Adams Letters, Is Protest Patriotic, Freedoms of the First Amendment for Students, and more. The day culminated in an incredible town hall conversation featuring 2021 Fort Worth Mayoral candidate Deborah Peoples and two-term Mayor Mattie Parker. Mr. Douglas had invited students to participate in planning the day, and their roles included facilitating the town hall. Peoples and Mayor Parker demonstrated the same remarkable respect for each other, even as they differed in perspectives and proposals, echoing the atmosphere of their televised debate back in May 2021.

The Democracy Day Committee’s goal was to showcase civil discourse, and the students experienced this in various formats, particularly during this all-Upper School assembly. Special bonus: Eligible voters in the senior class were able to register to vote thanks to the efforts of Cornell Woolridge ’96 and Jack Carvalho ’17. Read more about Democracy Day in the September 27 edition of the FWCD Update.