Equality – what does it mean to fifth graders?

 

Caroline Prydal, a fifth-grade teacher at Pakanasink, got her students talking about it after they watched the video of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. giving his 1963 “I Have A Dream” speech.

 

The students listened intently to the speech. Their ideas of equality included people having rights and being whoever they want to be. Fairness was a word mentioned often. Brotherhood too. “We can’t do any of this without each other,” said one student. It is being accepted for who you are.

 

 

The students were very thoughtful about their answers. They discussed how to break barriers and be able to speak their minds without judgment. Their suggestions in achieving those things included being kind to others and showing respect; being more open-minded when listening to each other.