LOUISVILLE, Ky. — When Tyler Jones’ students talked about Joe Biden’s inaugural address following his swearing in as the 46th President of the United States, they focused on the message just as much as the messenger.

“We talked about the preamble. We discussed what makes a good inaugural address,” said Jones, who teaches fifth grade social studies at J. Graham Brown School. “There’s nothing more powerful than helping students figure out they have a voice.”

Jones said the discussions are just a part of the tool kit his students will take with them on their life journeys. Mason Ackerman was excited to see Vice President Kamala Harris make history as the first woman, African-American, and Asian American Vice President.

“I cannot stop thinking about that 100 years ago women couldn’t vote,” Ackerman said. “Now there is one in the highest offices.”

Jones wanted his students to tune in for the inauguration. He said that this is the first one that they are old enough to appreciate.

“This is the first election that they understand what’s going on," Jones said. "In two elections, they’ll be able to vote which is neat and fun for them."

Alaina Flynn echoed that in the class discussions. She said through continued study, they can help track the progression of the Biden Administration.

“Now we get to see the changes that Biden is going to make and be able to understand and research this new term,” Flynn said.

These students are used to plenty of important discussions in Jones’s class. They discussed the racial injustice protests across the nation, the global COVID-19 pandemic, and just two weeks ago the the riot and violent attack against Congress at the U.S. Capitol.

For Rhaegan Hogue, she said the big takeaway from Biden’s inaugural address was unity and healing.

“I feel like all of this has divided us and he knows that and wants to bring us together again," Hogue said.

With the 46th president in the oval office, Nia Pitmon wants to see how the Biden Administration works with the legislative branches on the campaign promises.

“Helping stop systemic racism, global warming, people in power who care about that kind of stuff," Pitmon said.