Seeing History in a Quiet Capital

By Raif Cosgrave

January 5, 2026

From October 16-17th, JMS 8th graders attended the annual Washington D.C. trip, where the government shutdown created changes in the scheduled activities.

The Washington D.C trip is a tradition where 8th graders embark on an overnight trip to the nation’s capital, exploring iconic landmarks and museums. This year, however, a government shutdown impacted the availability of the previously scheduled locations. At first, students had some doubts on whether or not the trip would meet their expectations. However, they were pleasantly surprised when the social studies teachers said that they would be going to different places than usual, and they would work around the government shutdown. When students left before dawn the morning of October 16, spirits were high. 

Later that day, the students stepped out of the buses at their first stop: a meeting with Tom Suozzi, the Congressman representing the Third Congressional District in New York. Although they could not go inside the U.S. Capitol, they were still able to go to the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Lowell Milken Center for advancing the American Dream. Mr.Lawlor, an 8th social studies teacher who helps organize the D.C trip every year, noted that the shutdown created new experiences for students: “This year, students were greeted at the steps of the Capitol by Representative Thomas Suozzi. This was an exciting addition to the trip as he led students in a discussion about the roles and significance of local and federal government.” He added, “Another new addition this year was the Lowell Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream … Among the many impressive collections inside are two paintings created by Jericho students who won the ARTEFFECT competition.”

The Washington D.C trip was a very unique experience for everyone who went on it, even though the government shutdown threw a wrench in the plans, especially for the teachers planning the trip: “The staff was hopeful that the shutdown would end before the trip, but an alternative itinerary was made just in case … Washington, D.C. offers so many incredible sites for the students to learn that we knew the trip would still be great,”  Mr. Lawlor stated. Indeed, some students initially felt down and thought the D.C trip was not going to be as fun as usual. But a government shutdown does not happen every day. This was the longest one in U.S. history, and it gave students a chance to learn about parts of the government that they may not have seen or heard of before. For example, they learned about so many people in our daily lives that they took for granted losing jobs and being furloughed. 

The Washington D.C trip was different this year, but teachers and students alike experienced something unique in working around it. As William James once said, “To study the abnormal is the best way of understanding the normal." The government shutdown brought a variety of challenges, but it was definitely a valuable learning experience.