Celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Next Monday, The Glen will celebrate the federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy. This day is dedicated to community service, a powerful way to embody Dr. King’s spirit of giving. We encourage you to join us and learn more about Dr. King and his commitment to civil rights and humanitarian work.
Although Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) and Maria Montessori (1870-1952) never crossed paths, their teachings overlap. Both were unwavering in their commitment to fundamental human rights, including freedom, dignity, safety, and equitable treatment for all. Both followed the example of Gandhi and his activist efforts for peaceful, nonviolent protest to create change. These shared visions unite us in pursuing a more just and equal society.
At The Glen, Peace Education is not just a subject; it’s a way of life. It permeates every lesson and every interaction, both in and outside the classroom. From resolving playground conflicts peacefully to discussing the legacies of peacemakers like Dr. King, Dr. Montessori, and Gandhi, we instill the values of dignity, respect, and equality in our students every day.
In a recent newsletter, Montessorian and anti-racist educator Brit Hawthorne wrote about Dr. King and his enduring legacy. Her message pointed out that “he was an everyday person who achieved extraordinary things” and that this understanding helps “learners see themselves as capable of making impactful change, just as he did.”
Brit’s blog post also recommends books she favors to discuss Martin Luther King, Jr. with your family. This post discusses Dr. King’s philosophy and approach to challenging injustice with nonviolence, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Civil Rights Act of 1968. It’s an excellent read for parents!
As you have conversations with your children over the coming days about Dr. King and the fight for equality and justice, recognize that those same lessons are repeated daily in classrooms at The Glen.
We have created a list of resources for parents below:
Read any of the books listed in Brit Hawthone’s blog post above! These are especially good for younger children.
For elementary school students and up, read “What Is the Civil Rights Movement?” out loud together. Be prepared to discuss vocabulary words such as boycott, discrimination, equal opportunity, integration, nonviolence, prejudice, racial oppression, segregation, and social justice. Understanding these terms is crucial to fully comprehend the history and significance of the Civil Rights Movement.
Watch Martin Luther King, Jr.’s I Have a Dream Speech together on YouTube or read and listen to the 17-minute speech on NPR.
Honor Dr. King’s legacy with a day of family community service – or build a community service project to work on throughout the next month or year! Get ideas for a family service project from books on the A Mighty Girl website. (Many of these books are in the library, too!)
Kidsburgh has collected some great ideas to mark the occasion on Monday – from plays to vocal and instrumental art celebrations. A couple caught our attention:
Pittsburgh Children’s Museum guest artists and poets are hosting special activities inspired by the hope and kindness that Martin Luther King embodied.
Carnegie Museum of Art runs a program from 9:00 – 3:00 PM for artists aged 6 through 10 while parents work! Sign up today! $65 for Museum members/$75 non-members
