childrens books/education/class projects

HIGHLIGHTS OF MARGARET CHASE SMITH'S LIFE

Highlights of Margaret Chase Smith's Life
by a Fourth Grade Class
Biddle Publishing Company

February 15th, 1994 will be a date that will be remembered by 23 fourth graders, their teachers and parents. it was on this day that Mrs. Janice Driver's class set forth to publish a book about Senator Margaret Chase Smith.

This project evolved through the need of material about the Senator written on a young student's level. The research by the students was done mainly through information received by interviewing, vising the Margaret Chase Smith Library, and the programs and videos shown by the library staff.

The purpose of this project was to not only learn extensive research skills, but to then provide other 4th grades with information about Margaret Chase Smith that they could read and enjoy. This is especially pertinent due to the fact that state-wide, Maine, is studied in fourth grades. It is also our hope that through this "fresh young" perspective, an interest will be sparked in community service and politics as modeled by the Senator.
ISBN: 1-879418-16-9
©1994
$8.95 US
Softcover

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EXCERPTS

Margaret Chase Smith wrote a speech called the Declaration of Conscience, because whe wanted Joseph McCarthy to stop calling people communists. The Declaration of Conscience worked. After that Joseph McCarthy convinced two people to run against Margaret Chase Smith, but those two people did not stop Margaret Chase Smith. Joseph McCarthy tried and tried, but could not stop Margaret Chase Smith. He also kicked Margaret Chase Smith off the Privileges and Elections Subcommittee.

In the Declaration of Conscience she did a lot of revising, too. So the Declaration of conscience would be more powerful. Margaret Chase Smith was only a Junior Senator when she wrote the speech and gave the speech. That was unusually surprising because a first year Senator doesn't give speeches like she did. No one thought that anyone would be brave enough to stop Joseph McCarthy from calling people communists.

Brent Rainey--Fourth Grade

In 1905 when Margaret Chase Smith was nine her father, George, worked as a barber. Her brothers and sisters were Wilbur, Roland, Lawrence, Laura, and Evelyn. The things that she remembered that her mother told her are:
1. Obey the Golden Rule: Live by it.
2. Always be a lady. Even when you assert yourself.
3. Always keep your word.
4. Anything that is worth doing is worth doing right the first time.
5. Always be courteous and considerate.

Margaret collected Russian dolls and she has 16 of them. Her mother's name was Carrie. Margaret's first job was working at a 5 and 10 cent store and she earned $.35 a day. She had many jobs throughout her life. Try to get to meet her at her library soon.

Maegan Rice--Fourth Grade

REVIEWS

"Written and illustrated by the members of a public fourth grade class, this is an engaging and informative biography covering the public life of the first woman to be elected to the United States Senate...highly recommended."

Children's Book Watch

"As a published author, I know how proud the students must be of their writing achievements. As a republican Senator from the state of Maine, I know how proud the Republican Party and the State are of Mrs. Smith. But, most important, as an advocate of public education, I know how proud I am of the students and the future they represent. This book is a success on many levels and I am honored to have a copy for my library."

William S. Cohen, United States Senator

"Dr. Gregory Gallant, director of the Margaret Chase Smith Library, was so impressed he presented the young scholars with an Ada E. Leeke Research Fellowship Grant, normally reserved for graduate students. It's a good example of what creative teachers can do if the group and school pull together...The Woolwich Central School holds the copyright to the book, and its portion of royalties will go back to the school for future publishing projects."

The Times Record

"What a joy this book is! The book concludes with a Project Time Line which should be a helpful guide to other schools, teachers and students in accomplishing a similar project, and further reason why school libraries all over the country will want this book in their collections."