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Perspectives in education
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by Andre Riley |
February 6, 2008 |
School district honors Kansas City pioneers
A Black History Month is a time for all Americans to honor the contributions of African-Americans to our society. The Kansas City, Missouri School District’s staff and students are taking a unique approach to meeting that standard.
From the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday through Black History Month, the school district will be celebrating the everyday contributions of African-Americans nationally and on the local stage. The capstone of the effort is a program to honor notable African-American graduates of the District called Lifting As We Climb.
Since Black History Month’s origins in 1926, young students throughout the nation have learned about African-American icons such as Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Nat Turner and George Washington Carver.
However, students and educators alike have struggled to identify local achievements and everyday actions students could identify with. Lifting As We Climb fills that void by naming achievers who share the same roots as today’s students.
Each weekday on the Black History Month page on the District’s Web site, www.kcmsd.net, a local achiever will be profiled. In all, 21 notable graduates will be honored. Some names you’ll recognize and some will be people you know but never considered in this light. The district hopes students will view these graduates as the more well-known African-American icons they see in text books — role models who show what hard work and perseverance can bring.
At the school level, elementary and high school students are celebrating the legacy of Dr. King and Black History Month in distinctive ways.
At Westport Middle School, special education teacher Gayle Hill wrote and directed Remember the King, a theatrical production that used dramatized skits to re-create special moments in the civil rights leader’s life. The play documented the pivotal moment in King’s childhood when he was told he could no longer play with a white neighbor, to the March on Washington, D.C. Nearly 50 Westport Middle students took part in the program.
Other schools also had efforts of note.
At Blenheim Accelerated Elementary School, parents took the lead in presenting a production about King’s life.
Students at Border Star Montessori performed “African-Americans: The Past, the Present, The Future,” a mix of classroom plays, songs and speeches.
At Askew Elementary, students created art projects to honor Dr. King.
At Northeast High, students are participating in a contest to create murals showing the spirit of diversity at the school.
Through a united effort, the school district is making Black History Month truly a celebration for all.
Andre Riley is a spokesman for the Kansas City School District. Education perspectives takes a look at the district's new education trends and programs. To contact the district call 816-418-7000 or e-mail PublicInfo@kcmsd.net.
2008 Archives:
February School District honors Kansas City pioneers
January Safety a top priority for KC public schools & School district tries to reach dropouts
2007 Archives:
December Lincoln Prep top in the nation in 2008
November Parents Have Power
October Early Reading First
September National Attention on Reform Initiative
July Neighborhood Schools for Everyone
June Year-End Wrap-Up from Head of Schools
May Summer School Starts June 18 , Summer School Is for Everyone & Parent Power Prepares You for College
April Wake Up: It's Time to Take a MAP & Lincoln Goes to Robotics Finals
February See the Stars at Southwest High School
January Parent/Teacher Conferences Coming Up & College Degrees for District Parents
