- Utah students and seniors discuss America's 250th anniversary, sharing pride and hope.
- Eighth graders at Churchill Junior High School reflected on the American Revolution, emphasizing its historical lessons and democracy.
- Seniors at Friendship Manor also appreciate the history classes, promoting engagement and a global perspective on citizenship.
SALT LAKE CITY — In 2026, the United States of America will mark its 250th anniversary. As Utah commemorates that milestone, KSL visited some students and senior citizens to learn how they feel about being Americans.
"What do you think was the most serious complaint that the colonists had against Great Britain in the Declaration of Independence?" said Laura Pratt, a teacher posing the question to her eighth graders at Churchill Junior High School in Salt Lake City.
Their discussion about the American Revolution led to the conclusion that most colonists felt it was the only option. The students talked about forcing colonists to house British soldiers, and that the soldiers would be sent back to Great Britain to face charges if there was any wrongdoing, not in the Colonies.
Taxation without representation and cutting off exports were other complaints, another student added.
The class also made posters, using the words from the Declaration of Independence to rally fellow revolutionaries. They divided into groups and came up with slogans. "They're taxing us, like 'Save Our Tea,'" a group of young women said.
"I think it's important to instill in kids that we all have a responsibility to make sure that our democracy works," Pratt said.
What students said
The students at Churchill were asked why it's important to know about American history.
"So we don't repeat what has happened in the past," Aaron White said. "Just in case and like learn from it, too, you know, learn what we could do better."
"We are still such a new country, but we have so much rich history that is super, super important to learn about and, you know, just be grateful to be here," Mia Morton said.
"We just had to fight so hard to, like, get away from the English to just become a country. And now we are like this amazing, beautiful country," Amedeo Saccomanno said.
"There are still problems and if we do not learn about them, they may not relapse," said Victoria Moore, "and they may relapse and if they start to relapse, we will not know how to handle them properly. We might have the same problems as we did in the past."
Their teacher added, "If we go back to John F. Kennedy's words, 'Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country,' — we want young people to be engaged. We want them to be involved, and we want them to be excited about the present and the future of the country. Not everyone in Congress was super happy with this," she said.
What seniors said
Pratt took those same lessons to a group of senior citizens at Friendship Manor in Salt Lake City.
Susan McCain is a friend of Pratt's, and over dinner, they discussed American history. Susan thought her fellow residents would enjoy a class.
"We're old and decrepit, but our minds are still working," McCain said. "But for our minds to work, they need to be fed the proper diet. Laura is really one of the most important parts of that. We live the history, but it doesn't necessarily mean we can make sense of it. And she helps us be objective and bring in things that we didn't know while we were living it."
I think it's important to instill in kids that we all have a responsibility to make sure that our democracy works.
–Laura Pratt, Churchill Junior High School teacher
Ray Maestas said, "We know that those are some serious kinds of things that we're struggling with as older Americans and now I see an opportunity to get involved and we're really promoting this. We're stakeholders!"
Carole Straughn added, "Oh, this is a great opportunity for us to reacquaint ourselves with what a precious thing we have in this country and this experiment and how we can all help to make it succeed."
An agreement of hope and pride
From the eighth-graders to the senior citizens, there is agreement: there is much to be proud of and there is hope.
"To be an American is just to know that I am super lucky to live in this amazing country," said Mia Morton, an eighth-grader, "where we have the freedom and rights that we had to fight for, for a very long time that a lot of countries do not have."
Her classmate, Victoria Moore, said, "I believe that it means we all are willing to fight to make sure that we're all equal, no matter who we are."
Ray Maestas of Friendship Manor said, "We have a significant place in this country, in this world, and this makes me a bit more global in my world view."
"You know, being one of the top nations in the world, I think it worked out pretty well," said eighth grader Aaron White.
And Friendship Manor resident Carole Straughn said, "I believe that all of us are of equal worth and dignity and we can work together. And when we work together, things go better for everybody."
"This time period has a lot of political discord in it," Pratt said. "But it is just a time period. It will pass. As long as we all participate, I think, you know, the future is bright for everybody."
