President Barack Obama?s inauguration served as a live history lesson for students at schools across Long Island Tuesday.

At Ludlum Elementary School in Hempstead, recently re-named Barack Obama Elementary School, students waved American flags and watched with pride as the 44th president was sworn in. Even the young students say Obama?s presidency is a symbol for their own dreams.

In Brentwood, students packed school auditoriums all throughout the district to watch the inauguration.

?This is going to be in the history books for years to come and it's a really positive moment for our country,? Brentwood High School social studies teacher Thomas Shine says.

The principal of the Barack Obama Elementary School had won tickets to the inauguration, but says she gave them to her son because she didn't want to miss seeing the faces of her students as Obama took the oath of office.