Charles City students recognize Black History Month

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Lincoln Elementary students of third grade teacher Alyssa Davis lined up in the school’s gymnasium Wednesday afternoon and read short biographies of famous or impactful African Americans throughout history at an assembly to recognize Black History Month.

The biographies were from a wide variety of historic individuals such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and Frederick Douglass, as well as groundbreaking sports heroes such as Jesse Owens and Jackie Robinson.

“It is important for our students to have the opportunity to see themselves in history,” said Lincoln Elementary principal Marcia DeVore. “We want to give them an opportunity to share in front of their classmates.”

The student-led assembly was a part of the school’s monthly assembly routine, according to DeVore, who said that with February being Black History Month, it seemed like a natural connection to highlight some of those figures. Lincoln Elementary parents were also invited to attend.

“On an everyday basis, we look to have stories that are about students from a wide range of cultural diversity,” DeVore said. “Because Black History Month is a nationally recognized time, this is an especially good time to highlight those pieces.”

The Charles City School District is recognizing Black History Month with a variety of educational and enrichment activities in February.

“African American history is part of the year-long curriculum at each of our campuses, and teachers and students will take extra time throughout the month for further exploration of significant historical figures and events,” the district said in a news release.

Also at Lincoln this month, students are invited to identify famous black leaders and their accomplishments from brief descriptors on the bulletin board. At Washington Elementary, first-grade students performed a historical comparison of students from history and students of the 21st century.

Many students were shocked to learn that historically, students were segregated based on one’s skin color. The lesson learned was that “every big change starts with a first step.”

Charles City fourth-graders this month attended a matinee performance of “Walk On: The Story of Rosa Parks,” at Gallagher-Bludorn at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. The event, sponsored by the Elementary School Parent Teacher Association, tells the story of Rosa Parks, with music and drama, from her childhood in rural Alabama to her famous decision to “sit down and be counted.”

The play dispels myths about Parks and her protest as it paints a portrait of a complex woman who had to find reconciliation within herself in order to become an effective civil rights leader. “Walk On: The Story of Rosa Parks” shows how the determination of one individual made all the difference in the struggle for freedom and equality in the United States.

At Charles City Middle School, students will present a display on people who they self-selected as “amazing people who made an impact.” Students will research 11 people and create multimedia posters that show their life and impact. Students will also present the posters to an authentic audience of peers and community members with a gallery walk through Comet Gym.

At Charles City High School, a student group is presenting information on influential African Americans and how they affected our current society. Students will be setting up a fair for students to view the information during CC WIN time and during lunch.

The student group is also working to evaluate the current curriculum offerings to ensure that essential African American history is included for all students year-round.