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Orion students watch inauguration during class

About one dozen students watched part of President Biden's inaugural address, as part of their political science class at Orion High School.

ORION, Ill. — Some Orion High School students watched as President Biden and Vice President Harris were sworn in Wednesday.

It's a lesson plan that only comes around every four years.

As about one dozen students walked into class, they were about to witness history.

"The fact that we've had only 46 presidents it is kinda monumental," said Orion high school social studies teacher Alex Johnson.

Wednesday's class is one Johnson hopes his students will remember.

"Every inauguration is kinda special in its own light, but this one just given the context it's being delivered in is something I think will be remembered," Johnson said.

RELATED: Read: Full text of Biden's inaugural address as 46th president

As students watched from their seats, Johnson offered another lesson.

"Kamala Harris becoming our vice president is maybe something that's getting overshadowed," Johnson said. "People like Kamala Harris being able to achieve this is something that hopefully causes many of my students to see inspiration with."

That lesson stuck for students like Isabelle Nordstrom.

"Really gives me hope I can do anything I want with my life and it gives me hope for what our future government could look like, now that women everywhere have this inspiration to look towards," Nordstrom said.

Credit: WQAD/Anthony Panicucci
Isabelle Nordstrom, Orion junior, (right) watches part of the inaugural address given by Joe Biden as part of her political science class on Wednesday.

Nordstrom said Wednesday's inaugural address gives her hope more voices will be heard, too.

"Having women, having people of color, having minorities in power, in office, it brings a different perspective of what we've had a lot of," Nordstrom said.

It gives her hope as America begins writing it's next chapter of its history.

Johnson said he hopes his students walk away with a sense the U.S. democracy is still moving forward, despite its challenges. 

Johnson also added showing the inauguration in class Wednesday was just one way of helping his students become more engaged citizens and better understand current events.

RELATED: President Biden signs first executive orders on climate, coronavirus

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