Equity and Diversity Newsletter
Elementary Edition January 2021
Carrying the Torch Forward
Monday, January 18, 2021, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States. It is a day that we not only celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. but a day that we acknowledge those whose shoulders he stood on. We want to celebrate this day and share information about this influential American, civil rights leader, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929. He was a Baptist minister and leader of the civil rights movement, championing justice and equality from the mid-1950s until his death by assassination in 1968. As he said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Dr. King was also a strong advocate of change through nonviolence. His actions were based on his Christian values, he was a powerful speaker, and his words still resonate with us today.
As we prepare to celebrate his legacy let’s ask ourselves what part as educators can we play. What’s the purpose? And how can we carry it on in the same spirit of building, service, and advocating for equality that Dr. King exemplified?
Did You Know Facts About Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Maybe you can use some of this information for MLK trivia:
- He was born Michael King Jr. on January 15, 1929. His father, a pastor at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, traveled to Germany in 1934 and, inspired by Protestant Reformation leader Martin Luther, changed his name as well as that of his 5-year-old son.
King entered college at the age of 15! He skipped grades 9 and 12 before enrolling at Morehouse College, the alma mater of his father and maternal grandfather, in 1944.
He is the only person born in the United States whose birthday is a federal holiday. (George Washington was born before the United States came to be.) In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill that named the third Monday in January as the holiday observance “Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday.” It took 17 years for all 50 states to recognize the holiday. The last states to officially observe it were Arizona in 1992, New Hampshire in 1999, and Utah in 2000.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
–Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–68)
What's In Your Tool Box?
- You can find events that are family-friendly for MLK Day in Springfield or create an event for your classroom or create your own projects using these resources year-round, to do with kids ages 5–18.
- Make “caring cards” to take to a local senior center or firehouse.
- Find all your old T-shirts and towels and take them to an animal shelter.
- Have your child pick out one item each time you go to the grocery store; when you’ve collected a bagful give it to your local food pantry.
- Donate gently used books, DVDs, or toys to a local children’s hospital.
This year, The Springfield NAACP branch is collecting warm outerwear for unsheltered individuals in our community. Encourage Your students to donate scarves, gloves, and socks to be delivered to the collection bin at Big Momma’s, located at 217 E. Commerical St., Springfield, MO 65803. If you are unable to get the items to Big Momma's contact Lisa Searles in the Office for Equity & Diversity at 417-523-0315.
Coming Events For MLK Day
Reading With Ms. Gwen
My Brother Martin is one of my personal favorites. I have my very own MLK doll that has traveled with me from school to school to help me share the young life of Dr. M. L.King Jr. You see he was a kid once too.
Written by Renowned educator Christine King Farris, martin’s older sister, and joined by celebrated illustrator Chris Soentpiet they tell this “outstanding” and inspirational story of how one boyhood experience inspired a movement that would change the world as we know it.
"Mother Dear, one day I’m going to turn this world upside down."
Long before he became a world-famous dreamer, Martin Luther King Jr. was a little boy who played jokes and practiced the piano, and made friends without considering race. But when he grew up he really did turn this world upside down for the better of all mankind. At the end of the book, you can discover how your students can change the world too, in a tribute to entitled, You Can Be Like Martin
My Brother Martin can be found in Springfield Public Schools Libraries or on You Tube storytime read aloud.
Due to Covid-19, I would like to offer you an opportunity for virtual reading With Ms. Gwen. If you are interested please send me your zoom information, date, and time by email @ gmarshall@spsmail.org. I am looking forward to hearing from you.