Oakley's Freedom High students 'Walk Through Time'

By Roni Gehlke
For the Contra Costa Times

Stepping back in time, fellow students, families and friends had a chance to see the hard-won efforts of the junior class at Freedom High School last week when the students presented "Walk Through Time." The event brought to life over a century of United States history.

Each year for the past eight years, students have presented the "Walk Through Time" through a variety of ways. The current class collectively spent the last three months researching famous people of the past 110 years, using their roles in history to tell a story, taking visitors on a journey.
Visitors were invited into decorated booth or set areas that each represented a decade in time. Participating students each introduced themselves as a member of society from that particular decade.

"We worked after school building each of the sets," said Meagan Woolridge, playing the role of Eleanor Roosevelt. "We had to make up the theme and select the people who would be in the set."

Each student was asked to choose whom he or she wanted to represent for an assigned era. Then they had to research the role that person had in history and design an appropriate costume. The students chose people from all walks of life. On the set for the 1930s era each student introduced himself, using his character name, with a handshake and smile.

In attendance were actors like Borris Karloff, played by Alex Caballero, Joan Crawford, played by Sereena Villa and Shirley Temple, played by Haleigh Freier. Made famous by his fictional character in "The Grapes of Wrath," the students also portrayed Tom Joad, played by James Stroud. In the book about the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, Joad was an Oklahoma farmer who lost his crops and was forced to come to California to earn a living.

The students also presented photographer Dorothea Lange, played by Sophia Medina, made famous by the photo she took of the 1930 migrant mother, Florence Owens Thompson, also played by student Roico Casillas.

No discussion of the 1930s decade would be complete without Mr. Monopoly, according to Nicole Levi who played the game board character. The Monopoly game was released in the 1934.

The event also offered each of the students a chance to portray their characters in a skit on a small stage area. Shirley Temple (Freier) was given a cheer from her classmates after she sang one of Temple's songs made famous in the child star's movies in the 1930s.

Each of the students within each decade were also asked to devise a set that represented each of the era's personalities they chose. The 1950s featured a set of a 1950s ice cream soda shop. Standing in front of the storyboard was Lucille Ball of "I Love Lucy" fame, played by Shawna England.

"I was part of a popular American television show playing a ditsy housewife," England explained in character.

Next to her was a scene painted from the famous "Ed Sullivan Show," which introduced many unknown talents to the American public during the 1950s. Tyler Drinnen play the role of Sullivan in the school program.

Not all was fun and television on the 1950s set. Jennifer Salguero was also on hand playing the part of Rosa Parks. She talked about the fine she was charged when she refused to give up her seat on a bus in protest of segregation.

A very elegant Jacqueline "Jackie" Kennedy, portrayed by Claire Joseph, was standing to welcome all those who entered the 1960s set. Joseph was responsible for the set design in the 1960s booth. Although she is quick to give credit to all those in her group, members of her group all turned the credit right back to Joseph.

"Claire did such a great job on the walls," said Courtney Nevarez, who played Ethel Payne the first lady of the Black press. "She did a lot of research."

In their junior year of high school, students who take American Studies divide their time between American History and American Literature.

"Each of the decade sets had to be well-rounded in both subjects," Woolridge said.

The span of decades presented ranged from 1900 to 2000s. The 2000 decade featured a drawing of national disasters, including 9-11, Hurricane Kratina, Virginia Tech killings and the outbreak of swine flu. Students are graded on their participation and knowledge of their character.