Oh, say can you … sing?
When Senior White House Adviser Valerie Jarrett agreed to participate in the Department of Education’s Read to the Top program, she definitely wasn’t planning on having to sing a solo. But that’s exactly what ended up happening while she read “America Is” to local elementary school students outside the DOE building Tuesday.
Jarrett — who was joined by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar in reading to the children — kept the simple book exciting but engaging the kids while she read. When Jarrett arrived to one point in the children’s book that has “The Pledge of Allegiance” printed in its entirety, she asked the kids to join her in reciting, which they all happily and proudly did.
But when she flipped the page to the “Star-Spangled Banner,” she didn’t get the same response. As she started singing, “Oh, say can you see,” most of the 8- and 9-year-olds did not know the song, forcing her to sing the tricky and high-pitched tune without much help (except for some parents and teachers who clearly wanted to ease her embarrassment).
“I’ve always wanted to sing that with a microphone, that made my day” Jarrett joked when she finished her solo, looking very much relieved. “I didn’t know I’d be singing,” she said bashfully, knowing that her voice cut out during the feared “free” high note at the end of the song.
We give her an A for effort.
