In recognition of Italian American Heritage Month, students in the elementary schools read Peppe the Lamplighter by Elisa Carbone. In this story, Peppe, a boy who immigrated from Italy, works as a lamplighter in New York City’at the turn of the 20th century. Initially, his father is disappointed with Peppe’s job, but being a lamplighter takes on a new importance when his youngest sister gets lost in the dark. The story is featured in this article if you would like to read it.
The Edison Insider staff was asked to read the story, and then they answered the following question: What is a job that is not commonly viewed as “glamourous,” but you feel to be very important? Why? What would you say to someone who has this job?
“A job that is not commonly viewed as glamourous is a construction worker because they work long hours everyday and definitely get their hands dirty, but they are super important. They can fix or build anything we need, and we need them to survive. I would tell someone in this job to keep doing what they’re doing because even if they feel down, they mean a lot to many people. They are very important people in everyone’s lives.” -Chloe Blom
“Garbage collection is obviously not seen as glamorous because it’s a job where you collect other people’s trash. However, without sanitation workers, people’s waste would pile up and the world would become less sanitary and more diseases would spread.” -Gia Fuzy
“A job that is not commonly viewed as glamorous is a plumber. A plumber helps all houses stay clean, and a plumber does a job that most people wouldn’t want to do. It is important because they protect people’s health by clearing out water, fixing gas leaks and pipes, which a lot of people could not do. If I came in contact with a plumber, I would say thank you.” -Lila Gilman
“A job I feel is important is the cleaning business. Cleaning crews keep public spaces clean. Janitors clean up the cafeteria so that there isn’t a rat infestation in the school and cleaning companies can clean your house. I would say thank you to anyone that has this job because they are very important and always get overlooked.” -Lily Kopech
“I think a waitress is not commonly viewed as glamorous. Waiting tables is a very important job because without their kind service, our food would take longer to get to our table, or we wouldn’t even get our food! Servers should be viewed as glamorous because of their kind act of serving us food in a respectful and timely way.” -Grace Thorton
“I believe that janitors are a very important job – without janitors schools and other buildings would be filled with trash and wouldn’t be able to function. What I would say to a janitor is ‘Thank you for keeping our buildings clean, making buildings able to function without the fear of injury and doing your job without demanding praise.’” -Brooke Williams
The Student Government Association creates and shares slideshows on Vivi screens to celebrate monthly cultural observances. Who is one person you feel should be added to the slideshow and highlighted during Italian American Heritage Month?
“One person I think should be added to the slideshow is Ariana Grande because she is a great actor and singer. She brings so many people joy listening to her songs and seeing her in shows and movies.” -Maeve Brenan
“Sofia Cantore is a very positive Italian American role model because of the lasting impact she has had on many women. She is a young woman who has paved the way for others, showing that international opportunities are possible and that others can achieve their goals too. Sofia helped to build the bridge from Italian soccer to American soccer by introducing players into the league or connecting with American fans. Finally, she served as a motivation for resilience for others because she came back stronger than ever after two nearly career-ending injuries. Overall, she is an incredible soccer player who has made a lasting impact on both the game and people’s lives.” -Spencer Hantman
“One person I feel that should be highlighted is Lady Gaga (Stefani Germanotta) because her voice and her music helps to bring people together. Her songs are all very energetic and inspiring.” -Sally Lin
“Zendaya should be highlighted during Italian America Heritage month because she is an icon and role model for teenagers and young adults. Zendaya promotes causes like voting, mental health and racial equity, which are all very important to her, and she believes these causes should be supported. Her donations and support for these causes show that she is a good person, and a great role model for teenagers struggling with mental health or racial discrimination.” -Nysha Mehendiratta
“Steve Carell is a great person to be highlighted during Italian American Heritage Month in the SGA slideshow. Steve Carell is known for his comedic personality and his dramatic roles in acting. , He has also had part in being a co-writer and co-producer for multiple shows. In addition, he supports different charities. Steve Carell is a good influence on people due to his humble personality, morals and view on things.” -Casey Smith
“One person who I think deserves to be highlighted and added to the Italian American slideshow is Frank Sinatra.. This is because I like some of his most famous songs and so does my grandfather. Some songs that I like are ‘My Way.’ ‘New York, New York’ and “Fly Me to the Moon.” -Zach Gerstenfeld
