In this grade-school musical, lyrics revolve around learning

USA TODAY, January, 2008 by Tracey Wong Briggs

How long must we wait for liberty?

When is the vote for you and me?

You can throw us into prison with the rats and thieves/but when will the nation start to grieve?

FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- The sixth-grade Suffragists, decked in ruffled blouses and petticoats, sing their plight in a Haycock Elementary School assembly that brings the Constitution and voting amendments to life. It's a schoolwide production with costumes by kindergarten aide Carol Pappas, a chorus conducted by teacher Jack Layne, an appearance by founding father James Madison (teacher Rich Deixler) and a voting rights song sung by the faculty chorus.

Linda White, 60, who composed the suffrage and voting songs, accompanies every number. The music teacher who jump-started the assembly months ago is most at home wordless behind the piano.

"She's a morale builder. She's the glue that seeps into things," says audience member Bill ...