Long before they can read a headline, preschoolers are already doing one of a reporter’s core jobs: asking questions. That is the idea behind The Goddard School’s observance of World News Day on Sept. 28, when students at the company’s nearly 700 schools nationwide spent the day as “junior journalists,” according to a company release from its King of Prussia, Pa., headquarters.
The activities were scaled to each age group. Children explored how news is shared through photos and observations, interviewed classmates and teachers, held press conferences and reported on events in their own classrooms. World News Day is an annual global observance, held Sept. 28, that highlights the role journalists play in delivering trustworthy news.
Goddard ties the day to its Wonder of Learning program, an inquiry-based approach in which teachers build lessons around children’s interests and questions. “Children may not know what a journalist is yet, but they’re already doing what great journalists do: asking questions and seeking answers,” said Dr. Lauren Loquasto, senior vice president and chief academic officer of Goddard Systems, LLC, which manages the franchise system. She said the day shows “the value of an inquiry-based approach to learning.”
Some schools also invited professional journalists into classrooms so the children could turn the tables, with questions such as “Why did you become a journalist?” and “What’s the coolest story you’ve ever covered?” The release does not say which schools hosted reporters.
The company also teamed up with Julian Shapiro-Barnum, the comedian who created the Recess Therapy interview series, for videos of Goddard students being interviewed. The release says the series has more than 8 million followers across social media. “I’ve learned more about the world from talking to children than almost anyone else,” Shapiro-Barnum said. “They’re honest, curious and completely authentic.” The videos are posted on Goddard’s social channels, and the company is sharing photos and videos from participating schools on Instagram at @goddard_school.
Goddard says it serves almost 100,000 children, from six weeks to six years old, in 37 states and Washington, D.C. Southern Maryland families can find a Goddard School in Waldorf, listed on the company’s website, though the release does not say whether that school took part.
Student journalism has a local track record of its own. The Chronicle has covered the older students who anchor the school news in Charles County, including the NewsBreak anchors named for the 2022-23 school year.
