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Education

8-Year-Old Spurs Classroom Discussion by Dressing as a Different Historical Figure Every Day for a Year

Oct. 17, 2012 6:55pm Liz Klimas

For Stella Ehrhart, an 8-year-old third grader in Omaha, deciding what to wear to school is more complicated than just picking a shirt and pants. But she’s up for the challenge.

Every day since the second grade at Dundee Elementary School, Ehrhart has dressed as a different historical figure, according to the World-Herald, which recently profiled the girl.

Stella Ehrhart of Omaha Dresses as a Different Historical Character Every Day Since Second Grade

Ehrhart as Grace Kelly on her wedding day. (Photo via World-Herald)

Ehrhart has dressed as Grace Kelly, Queen Elizabeth, Billie Holiday, Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Rosa Parks, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Jan Brady of “The Brady Bunch,” many among others.

Ehrhart’s teachers support her dress-up schemes especially because it’s not distracting and it provides good teaching moments for them. Her classmates take notice as well:

“Ummm, Laura Ingalls Wilder,” Abby Adams said of her favorite Stella costume. “She wore, like, these shoes that were black and white. She wore, like, this dress with leggings. It’s kind of cool. I might do it next year.”

“One time she dressed as our principal,” said Jack Jenowe. “It’s cool.”

“It’s cool you’re doing a report on Stella,” said Elena Conyers Gaines, “because she’s a very nice girl.”

“My favorite costume was last year — she dressed as me,” said best friend Virginia Holtzclaw.

Stella Ehrhart of Omaha Dresses as a Different Historical Character Every Day Since Second Grade

Dressed as Helen Keller. (Photo via World-Herald)

As for how Ehrhart’s parents keep up with a daily costume, the World-Herald reports that they neither provide inspiration nor the costume itself. They simply help her with putting together the ensembles when they can. The Internet and her “Important Women” book serve as inspiration for who to be and how to emulate their look.

The World-Herald reports Ehrhart deciding she wanted to dress like the notable figures — and important people in her life — as they represented who she was hoping to be.

Stella Ehrhart of Omaha Dresses as a Different Historical Character Every Day Since Second Grade

Billie Holiday (Photo via World-Herald)

The World-Herald states that Ehrhart has been repeating some costumes this year school to make it a bit easier to put them together.

After the holiday’s though, Ehrhart will begin dressing like all her classmates will — in uniform.

Read more details about Ehrhart’s historical dress and see more pictures in the World-Herald’s full story here.

This story has been updated to correct a typo.

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Comments (47)

dont_drive_slow_in_the_left_lane_obliviot
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:25am
why the knocks? if she is looking up anything historical then she is already 10x smarter than her classmates and maybe teachers.

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toomuchgovt
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:55am
I don’t see anything wrong with what the parents are attempting to do. If the child is learning about the person, the clothing, the time period and the people are a diverse selection representative of our American Experience and History, great job. A better education than she will get from any public school these days. I hope the parents leave bias opinions out of it and seek truth in the people she is representing.

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grimjack3791
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 8:38am
This kid is in for a horrible future. Thanks mommy!

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lbw
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 1:58am
Has she done research on these people that “represented who she was hoping to be”? Billie Holiday was arrested at 14 for prostitution and \earned more than a thousand dollars a week from her club ventures at the time, but spent most of it on heroin.

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- bobdiamond
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 5:40am
  Where is this kids parents? Read political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
  Report this comment
- CABERNETQHS
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 7:36am
  Uniforms suck, and suck the individuality out of the kid. Our school system has them on the pretense it’s because the dress codes weren’t being followed. Who’s fault is that. Hold the kids and their parents accountable, don’t take the personality out of the kids. I of course think it’s to prepare them for government ruled everything. We will soon be like Nazi Germany or China.
  
  Report this comment
BBomber66
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 1:15am
More hollywood than historical. Why not Dolly Madison and Abigail Adams or Mary Todd Lincoln; Harriet Tubman, Mother Theresa, Margaret Thatcher, Eleanor Roosevelt, Sacagawea, Susan B. Anthony, etc. Dress up like a madam and explain how they influenced concealed weapons and voting. That should stir conversation.

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- Master_and_Commander
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 1:26am
  Oh gee, of course there’s somebody on here who just had to bash the EIGHT YEAR OLD GIRL for not doing good enough. Besides you don’t know if she didn’t dress as some of those characters anyways. Grow up and giver her credit for her creativity
  
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g56
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 11:56pm
Awesome story!

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- PlowMan
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:29am
  I agree! This girl should be commended not condemned like some are doing on here. If you can get a child to stay with an idea over a few hour, much less a whole year, your doing something right as parents.
  
  Report this comment
- Daithi
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:09pm
  I agree as well. This girl is awesome. You can’t be more of an individual than by being a different person every day.
  
  Report this comment
katiefrankie
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 11:46pm
What an awesome girl! How creative and brave. Standing out in a crowd at that age (until college, really) can be downright frightening, and she pulls it off in style! I loved history as a kid and still crave every chance I can learn about it as a grown-up. How fun!!!

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Libermerican
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 10:40pm
Another spoiled rich kid. I wore hand-me-downs, and didn’t get my first new anything until fifth grade, and continued to get hand-me-downs until I graduated from high school.

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- Kupo
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 11:14pm
  You jelly?
  
  Report this comment
- ANGGUY32
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 11:33pm
  Lib–typical of a liberal to focus on the materialistic part of this article instead of the real importance. Plus how do you know the girl and her parents don’t make her clothes.
  
  Report this comment
- COFemale
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 12:05am
  Well you fit the typical Liberal jealous person. Who said her parents are rich? They could get her clothes from Goodwill or mom could make them with a sewing machine.
  
  You are pathetic. Waaa Waaaa I had to wear hand me downs, Waaaa Waaaa. I didn’t get my fair share. Waaaa Waaaaa. Do hear how whiny you sound? I bet you drove your parents bonkers, cause whiny starts at a young age.
  
  Report this comment
- tradcatholicgirl
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 6:33am
  liberamerican,
  
  Give it a break. The kid thinks for herself.
  
  Is that what really bothers you? Not that she might have more money, but that she has more guts?
  
  Report this comment
- beesknow
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:25am
  Lib- Wow I read thru the story twice just to be sure…but no… It was not ALL ABOUT YOU..
  
  Report this comment
- Touche Turtle
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:35am
  AND???? What is your point???
  
  There are many of us who lived the very same way and were not raised to resent our humble beginnings! I had a great work ethic getting a part-time job after school in a restaurant . . . bought my own clothes and was PROUD to do it!! And I raised my children the same way BECAUSE it makes them appreciate what they have when they purchase it with their own money, it teaches them to be fiscally responsible, AND they learn if they want something, they should actually WORK for it!!!! After taking a long, hard look at the condition of our country, I’d say perhaps we ought to return to those days because the future for the current generation doesn’t look too great!
  
  WHAT is YOUR problem???
  
  Report this comment
- Yeah_Buddy
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 12:49pm
  Wow, no wonder you grew up to be so bitter.
  
  No new nothing until 5th grade? Christmas and birhtdays must have sucked for you. I’m sure your voting for an Obummerphone, I hear they are new not refurbished.
  
  Report this comment
piper60
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 9:22pm
I suppose.

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floridareader
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 9:12pm
I think this is not only cute, but smart and a good way for children to learn something different, even history. As long as other children don’t start cross-dressing, the idea of dressing up like historical, fun or contemporary figures es really great.

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Lordcsmith
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 9:10pm
How did she pull off Rosa Parks without making news?

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thetruthseeker711
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 9:03pm
This would be a very informative discourse on history. My initial feeling, is that the school will shut her down.

Kudos, love and understanding.

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watashbuddyfriend
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 8:38pm
Well, ‘Moma’ you got your child in the news!

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- thetruthseeker711
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 9:00pm
  Why the hate and jealousy? Please, live your life and let people live theirs. Promote love and understanding. Only love cures hate.
  
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- RabidPatriot
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 9:35pm
  What a joke. They found a clever way to evade the uniform requirements that her school has. I laughed when I saw the Helen Keller outfit. I thought it looked like a Little House on the Prairie costume and then I read that she has also dressed like Laure Ingalls Wilder. I guess she can wear that outfit and attach just about any girls name to it from 1867 to 1900.
  
  Report this comment
macpappy
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 8:32pm
So, moms came up with a creative way to explain the clothes she has been buying from the salvation army. If you are going to send your kid to school dressed like that, you had better have a good cover story.

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KeithOlbermann
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 8:02pm
This is the coolest kid on the planet. Hands down.

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Transmogrifier
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 7:54pm
Where/wear, and “after the holiday’s”?!

Please, Blaze. Please. It’s called English, and there are many, many, MANY capable people who are familiar with it that you can hire. Please get rid of illiterate morons like Liz Klimas. I don’t care how cool this story is, her flagrant stupidity overshadows it.

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- Shasta
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 8:14pm
  Perhaps all Liz needs is a few night school classes.
  
  Report this comment
- COFemale
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 12:17am
  Why do you care there is a typo? Until you two are perfect in everything you do, I would shut up and not condemn Liz. When you are writing as many articles as they are, you are bound to have a typo or two. I am a college instructor and sometimes I make typing errors.
  
  A gentleman, and I am using this loosely, because you might be a “lady” would just email Liz to let her know of the typo. Only losers make snide remarks, because that is what bullies do.
  
  Report this comment
- Touche Turtle
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:39am
  Snarky . . . . go eat some nails and be ready for the next round of stores to critique!!!!
  
  PLEASE . . . get a life. If you are looking for perfection perhaps you should write the stories yourself so we can criticize YOU!!
  
  Report this comment
MeteoricLimbo
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 7:49pm
Now I think that’s pretty cool.

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- ModerationIsBest
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 8:23pm
  Pretty cool kid, but when I read “rosa parks” I couldn’t help but think…..blackface?
  
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The-Monk
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 7:32pm
Stella,

If your reading this here’s one more to add.

Sri Sarada Devi

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=sri+sarada+devi&qpvt=sri+sarada+devi&FORM=IGRE

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MisterB
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 7:23pm
Was this story written by an 8 year old?

Where/wear… learn the difference..

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- 2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 7:46pm
  Perhaps INDIVIDUALISM penned the article. S/he is very confused by, among other things: there, their, and they’re.
  
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Jenny Lind
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 7:16pm
Neat kid, good for her. Too bad it will end. Kudos to Mom and Dad, too.

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bodenberger
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 7:13pm
That kid is probably crazy smart in history. I would bet that her mother is heavily involved in the process.

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- chips1
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 7:27pm
  Was that a fat joke?
  
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- MaleneSBrown
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 7:43pm
  If you make history fun, kids love it.
  
  Report this comment
Mr.Fitnah
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 7:11pm
OH I dont think we have heard the last from her, At least I hope not.

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Eastinfection
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 7:10pm
Historical figure “Jan Brady”?
Did she walk around saying “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia”

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- The-Monk
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 7:37pm
  Hey East,
  
  See anything strange over here……
  
  http://www.theblaze.com/stories/occupy-the-debate-slideshow-from-ows-at-romney-obama-debate/?corder=desc#comments
  
  Report this comment
2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
Posted on October 17, 2012 at 7:04pm
HalloweenTown has a lot of options if she is interested in dressing as Hillary, DWS, Moochelle, Madcow, etc….

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- Wool-Free Vision
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 7:21pm
  I bet wookie suits will be all the rage this year. A wookie costume and a $3,000 dress and you could win 50 dollars at any bar on Halloween night.
  
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