Budding Activists– Understanding Civil Rights at an Early Age

Civil rights education at Georgetown Day School begins early. By first grade, students are introduced to the concepts of equality, justice, segregation, and discrimination, as well as forms of protest and advocacy. Though to some these ideas may seem unwieldy for children so young, GDS students grasp them remarkably well. In a 2020 Hopper Effect blog post, GDS Author-in-Residence and former first grade teacher Paula Young Shelton and fifth grade teacher Judy Brown address this directly.

“A 6-year-old is acutely aware of what it means to be fair. They know when the cookies are not divided equally, and they are the first to complain if one student gets a second serving of lemonade…They quickly grasp that equality means we all get a chance to have cookies and lemonade, go to a good school, sit anywhere on the bus, vote, and marry who we want to marry…We believe that understanding our civil rights history and learning the lessons from this period of monumental social change are key to fulfilling the GDS philosophy, which includes sending students off into the world with a love of learning, an abhorrence of bigotry and intolerance, a broadly rounded fund of knowledge, and the willingness and capacity to bring needed change to a troubled world.”

In first grade at GDS, civil rights is a major part of the curriculum. In a unit of study that culminates in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Justice Assembly in early February, students find their own voices and learn that even at a young age, their actions can have a profound impact.

Part of a broader set of school-wide celebrations meant to foster community and shared values, the MLK Justice Assembly is organized by first grade teachers with the support of Lower School music teachers and division leaders. Held annually in recognition of Dr. King’s legacy, the assembly centers on justice and includes readings, reflections, and performances aligned with the school’s values.

“It brings out so much emotion in the kids,” said first grade teacher Unushe Walker. “They really feel the energy, and it’s so moving for them.” She explained that first graders are also learning how to speak before an audience. Throughout the year, teachers encourage students to speak with a big voice and use eye contact: skills they will need for the assembly and later in the spring for another presentation called the Authors Brunch. “So they know that’s the expectation, and they really try hard,” she said.

The teachers are often pleasantly surprised by how their students rise to the occasion. “By this time of year, we definitely know our kids well,” said first grade teacher Andrew Berman. “In the ‘Dream Speech,’ if the first person says their line loudly, the other kids hear that.” Hearing stronger speakers sets the bar for quieter students, who are often paired with peers with bigger voices. However, teachers frequently find that the support isn’t needed. Quiet students discover their confidence and emerge as empowered speakers.

“At the same time we’re studying our civil rights unit, so the kids go into it understanding why they’re shouting, ‘What do we want? Freedom!’” explained first grade teacher Danielle Goldart. “They get the idea behind it.”

By empowering students to understand justice from their earliest years, GDS ensures that its youngest learners are already prepared to be thoughtful, compassionate agents of change.

GDS has been recognized as a national leader in diversity education, receiving the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Leading Edge Award for Equity and Justice.