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MIND

CORNELL BLACKWELL, 9 Roblox is a fun free game you can play on the phone. It makes me happy. In the game, robux let you get items and purchase games. There is just one problem. Robux cost money! I think robux should be free so everyone can have a smile.

JAHIRAH ROBINSON, 10 Kids should feel safe in school. They should not worry about other kids bullying them wherever they go. Bullies should be expelled from school. I used to get bullied, and it made me really sad, so I don’t want other kids to get hurt or bullied.

TA’ILYNN STUKES- SMITH, 9 ‘‘Gravity Falls’’ is the best show because Dipper and Mabel are so adventurous. Anything is possible in that show. They should make more episodes, and more kids should watch. The show inspires me to go on more adventures!

SAYENKA PEAN, 10 Little sisters should go first and big sisters last, because big sisters should protect little sisters. When my mother calls us for lunch, she puts us in order: my big sister first, my brother in second, my little brother is third and I’m last, which is not fair.

ESTHER ISHOLA, 9 The white Americans shouldn’t have treated the black Americans badly, because everyone is equal. I think everyone should be kind to each other, and black Americans and white Americans should love each other just like a family.

SPEAK

YOURCRYSTAL MATEO, 10 I think there should be more kids’ movies. There are so many movies that kids can’t watch that adults can. There should be more movies that kids can learn from. For example, I want to see a movie that shows different countries and cultures.

AZIYAH HINTON, 10 I want Barack Obama to be the president forever. He did everything right. Unlike Donald Trump, who has all these investigations going on with the Russians and cheating. Barack Obama was the best president ever. He was very inspiring to kids like me.

NEVAEH BURGESS, 9 I think there should be more chapter books than small, thin books. More books that will make you smart. There should be 20 billion chapter books in the world. I like them because they share details. More characters, more story, more interesting.

ASIYA ODOM, 9 I don’t think Donald Trump should be president. He is trying to send people back to their home countries. This is not fair. I feel like this because he could find out that I’m not living with my mom and send me to her.

FOR EACH ISSUE of The New York Times for Kids, we visit a different fourth- grade public- school class somewhere in the United States. So far we have visited schools in Queens; Charlottesville, Va.; Chicago; and now, for this issue, Newark. I went with Jazmine Hughes, an editor who works with me, to visit Marilyn Muse’s class at George Washington Carver Elementary School. The three of us, along with Danielle Mastrogiovanni,

the literacy coach at the school, talked to the students about the difference between a reported article and an opinion. Then we asked students to come up with a subject they felt passionately about and write an opinion of their own. They wrote about all kinds of subjects, including movies for kids, race, bullying, football, President Trump and outdoor time during the school day. Here are short excerpts. Caitlin Roper ◊

M A R I L Y N M U S E ’ S F O U R T H - G R A D E C L A S S

George Washington Carver Elementary SchoolNewark

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2018

YASMIN ALBENO, 9 Slaves were treated badly, but the colonists who were under British law were here seeking freedom. Slavery wasn’t fair. Even though there isn’t slavery, some people don’t have the same rights. If I were president, everyone would have the same rights.

ZAHIR SANDERS, 10 Football is more interesting and more fun than basketball and all the other sports. The 49ers should be better than the Patriots. Then my friend Yuelle could stop bragging. The 49ers have a new quarterback from the Patriots, and Yuelle is mad.

NYASIA MILES, 9 I think people should dance every day. People should go to dance class to feel better. Dancing is something people can do to take away stress. Two or three weeks ago, my cousin passed away, and when I got home I was dancing to take the stress away.

YUELLE UKENTA, 10 I think that fourth graders should have more outside time to play sports to get all that excess energy out so we can learn. I think we should have more time to go outside, but not too much, so we don’t get tired and fall asleep in class.

TAYSIA CRAWFORD, 10 My opinion is that my birthday should be every day. I love the presents and cake and songs. My birthday is in two days, so that’s why I’m happy. If it were every day, I would be happy every day.

MATTHEW MANDERVILLE, 9 Basketball is the greatest sport. It’s exciting, and I like to watch it. When I grow up, I want to be a Golden State Warrior. Stephen Curry inspired me by making three- pointers.

OLAMIPOSI SIJUWADE, 10 I think we should have a female president of the United States. A female president will improve the facilities in the schools because they like children to be highly trained and respected. She would also help build and improve the country.

KIMBERLY ALBENO, 9 I think I should have more privileges than my twin sister. She always fights to go to the middle seat in the car, and she gets it. I think it’s not fair. Sometimes I feel like I’m the middle kid. I feel like I’m Wednesday of the week and I’m unnoticed.

SY’RAI CARPENTER, 10 People should see how it’s hard being a middle sibling. When your younger siblings are mad, they tell on you. When you want to do things and go places with your older siblings, you can’t always do it. So being in the middle is a hard job.

Opinion

PHOTOGRAPHS BY SALLY MONTANA