LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Fourth graders in Louisville have garnered national attention after being published this past weekend in the Sunday edition of the New York Times.

Johnsontown Road Elementary was selected to work one-on-one with editors from the publication to write opinion-based pieces, and 21 students saw their words immortalized in print. 

What You Need To Know

  • A class of fourth-graders from Louisville's Johnsontown Road Elementary got to write for the New York Times this weekend

  • Their opinion pieces were published in the Sunday edition of the New York Times

  • Students met with the editors virtually, who helped them revise what they wrote

  • The program was an effort to teach children about the difference between opinion-based writing and news reporting

Students met with the editors virtually, who helped them revise what they wrote. Jon Cherry, Pulitzer-Prize-winning photographer, took the students’ headshots.

The program was an effort to teach children about the difference between opinion-based writing and news reporting, Principal Stephen Howard said.

“The opinions were based on something they were passionate about,” Howard explained. “They worked with the editors of The New York Times over two days to flush out what they were passionate about.” 

The students chose a variety of unique opinions — treating all people fairly, hot takes on school lunches, and thoughts on keeping classrooms clean. 

Johnsontown Road Elementary School fourth-grader Savannah Atchison read her opinion piece to her classmates.

“We should support everyone. For example, if a boy wants to be more feminine than masculine, other boys should say ‘I support you, even if you’re different, instead of saying, ‘Hey! Be more like other boys.’ I want everyone to be kind and love our differences,” Atchison said. 

In August, The New York Times reached out to JCPS, inviting one school from the district to take part. Johnsontown was the first and only school in Kentucky to take part in the program. 

“It was really fun actually, we learned new ways to express and how to express ourselves,” said fourth-grader Kassie Burnham. 

“I put, the reason I think homeless people should get more respect is because they don’t have a house and we do, and we should all feel bad because people don’t feel bad like we do, and I think they should build a shelter for all homeless people, and that people should be nice and buy them food and we should buy them clothes,” Michael Eubanks III read from his writing. 

The students are witnessing the power their words can have. The program will continue highlighting one fourth-grade class each month from around the country, for the rest of the school year.