I had one of "those" experiences last week - a kind of "wow" experience. The second graders have been working on biography projects. I wanted to look at kid heroes in the library as well. One of my favorite kid heroes is Ruby Bridges. Maybe you remember her from history; maybe you do not. In 1960, she was chosen to be one of the first African American children to attend an "all-white" school in New Orleans. The trauma she endured at the hands of men, women, and children is unconscionable. Is it possible that a six-year-old child could experience such hatred from a civilized group of people?
Ruby Bridges preceded me in school by a few years, but I was going to school when Nashville forced integration by busing students to different schools. I was a seventh grader entering Donelson Junior High for the first time. I walked through lines of angry people. I observed how fear incited anger and misunderstanding. But I saw a miracle - kids learning to work through differences.
The "wow" experience last week is that Ruby Bridges accomplished her childhood goal, but it was realized years later. Our ILE students could not imagine such atrocities because they sit in a classroom where students are "not judged by the color of their skin."
In my lifetime, I have observed a miracle which is just another reason I love being part of education and teaching at Indian Lake Elementary.
As a family, you might consider watching the movie
Ruby Bridges - Ruby Bridges movie You can find it online. Talk about the past and where we are today. What do we need to continue to work on?
.JPG){kind=link}