I am so proud to be a part of such an amazing group of educators at work that I have to share a little story.  This past Friday, our school lobby was overwhelmed with four and five year olds carrying placards with such demands as No More Nap Time, More Spinach, More Time for Painting, More Recess, Peace for Israel, and You Can’t Say You Can’t Play.  The demonstration was vocal but peaceful.  The headmaster was asked to address the crowd and announced that their voices had been heard and naptime would be suspended for that day.  The cheers were exuberant.  In the back of the crowd, one of our Pre-kindergarten students was holding up a picture of Martin Luther King, Jr.  After the children were complimented for their peaceful and nonviolent protest; the headmaster shared that he was reminded that Martin Luther King Jr. had used the same methods to bring great change to our country.  It was a perfect teaching moment and I was in awe of our preschool staff’s ability to connect the message of this great American on a level that could be understood by four and five year olds.

On this day, we renew our commitment to creating students who not just have the power of knowledge but have the capacity to think for themselves and act for the greater good.

I hope you and your family had a meaningful holiday weekend.  And to those parents whose Pre-Kindergarten children were off the wall on Friday afternoon and evening due to not having naps, consider it a sacrifice in the name of civil disobedience.

Great Job, Teachers!