Every four years, the country stands still. The new president of the United States is sworn in at a traditional ceremony known as the Presidential Inauguration. This year, Donald Trump and Mike Pence were sworn in as the president and vice president on Jan. 20, 2017.

Liz Paternoster, a government teacher, allowed students into her classroom during C-lunch on Jan. 20  to watch the inauguration live.

“I think they [students] can learn that our democracy that the Republican founders created was always based on a peaceful transfer of power which is a critical thing to understand,” Paternoster said.

Being in a room surrounded by people who understood that while the election did not go as some had hoped, helped to focus on the fact that this ceremony was still a part of our government that would not change. This created more of a positive atmosphere.

“I can’t make any direct assumptions. I’m not excited but I don’t think it would be fair to say that I believe the whole world is going to end, and I’ve been surprised before,” junior Ashley Sharpley said.

The opportunity to view this piece of history during school hours was vital in the understanding of how president Trump’s term began and all useful in understanding the practices of our government during the transition between presidents.

“Even if an election is pretentious, even if someone won that you did not support, you should always remember and respect our democracy and the peaceful transfer of power,” Paternoster said.