By Shira Deener, Head of School
We know stories make us human. The act of sharing and receiving the stories of individuals is probably the most impactful pedagogical tool for connection between people. When JCDS invites guests to share their lived experiences, one can almost feel the molecules in the air shift and sparkle when witnessing the impact of this exchange. Our students sit upright, lean forward with curiosity, and they are right there in the palm of the hands of the speakers who choose to share their stories. That is how we make use of MLK Jr. Day when we are in person for our biennial MLK Day of Learning and Service. This year was no different and I am grateful to our Social Justice Coordinator, Naomi Greenfield, for helping to lead the vision and execution of such an impactful day.
MLK Day of Learning and Service
by Naomi Greenfield
2nd Grade General Studies Teacher, Va’ad Social Justice Chair
Every year on Martin Luther King Jr Day, we are charged with trying to capture the messages and wisdom of this once-in-a-lifetime changemaker into action. Though for many, MLK Day is a “day off,” at JCDS, we have embraced the idea of a “day on,” a day filled with learning and action, inspired by King’s message that “everybody can be great because everybody can serve.”
For the past several years that we have been embracing the idea of a social justice “theme” in our programming at school, we spent the day doing a deep dive into this year’s theme of Disability Awareness and Inclusion. This theme is very much inspired by King’s messages of inclusion and fairness for all, especially those not often seen and recognized in society.
People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.
-MLK
We kicked off our learning and action with our Erev MLK programming by learning about an incredible hands-on immersive project from Gann Academy History teacher Yoni Kadden. Intrigued by some mysterious stone markings in a field near Gann Academy, Kadden and his students embarked on a several-year project that ultimately led to the uncovering of a relatively unmarked cemetery of residents from the Fernald School in Waltham, an institution for adults with disabilities. The project exemplified how we can take action to give voice to the voiceless. Gann students and those who learned from their articles, interviews, and museum exhibits learned about how people with disabilities were treated right in their own backyard.
The next day at JCDS, we had the pleasure of welcoming Dana, Jovan, and Nico from the Bionic Project. This organization offers school programs and events with the mission to “dismantle disability bias, build empathy, and foster connection through education, story, and sport.” The Bionic Project team led separate assemblies for both the Lower School and the Middle School in which they skillfully engaged with students on the topics of disability, inclusion, allyship, media literacy, and assistive technology. In the Lower School, students learned about the importance of getting to know kids who may have a limb difference before asking them how they got their disability. In the Middle School, the highlight was Nico sharing a Powerade commercial that claimed to tell his life story. He then described how the messaging of the ad was one meant to both instill pity or inspire, as opposed to truthfully telling a broader and more accurate story of his successful and positive life.
Students (and faculty!) then got the chance to experience adaptive soccer by being fitted for crutches and playing a real game in the gym with Nico and Jovan, who are both members of the U.S. Adaptive Soccer Team. We couldn’t have imagined a more experiential way of learning about disabilities than to actually play with these incredible athletes and educators.
We also spent a good portion of the day taking action through service, both in making toiletry kits for the Somerville Homeless Coalition and doing our part of Hiddur Mitzvah, the mitzvah of beautifying ritual objects. Collectively from Gan Nitzan (Kindergarten) through 8th grade, we made Shabbat baskets filled with placemats, challot, challah covers, candles, candlesticks, flower vases, and paper flowers that were delivered to residents of JFCS’ CHAI house, supportive housing for adults living with disabilities. Students got a glimpse into the life of living with invisible disabilities in this short video. Big thanks to JCDS parent Asaf Gaon, Kitat Arava (2nd grade) student Nadav, and JCDS grandparent Carol Greenfield (GP ’24 & ’27) for also delivering the baskets this week!
To round out an already full day, Middle School students watched the documentary Crip Camp, which explores the fascinating and often untold history of the disability rights movement that was, in many ways, inspired by the Civil Rights Movement that came before it. Nico from the Bionic Project described Judy Heumann, one of the main subjects of Crip Camp (and the subject of two of our Community Book Read books this year!) as the “Martin Luther King of the Disability Rights Movement.”
The learning and action from Erev MLK on Sunday night through the delivery of Shabbat baskets on Wednesday made for an incredibly full “day on.” We hope these experiences will stay with students for a long time beyond these days.
jcdsboston.wordpress.com 