Voices Heard

In last week’s blog, I described how a student’s advocacy and research skills came to persuade me to close USM in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I expressed the hope our students would respect the spirit of MLK and celebrate the day in service to others. While it’s rare for me to cover the same topic two weeks in a row, I would like to thank all our students who responded so positively. Our voices were heard throughout the Milwaukee community.

For coverage, please click here.

RESPECT is More Than a Hit Record by Aretha Franklin

The 1967 hit and signature song for R&B singer Aretha Franklin is often considered one of the best songs of the R&B era. As music of the 60s, this song provides an appropriate accompaniment to the theme of this week’s blog: the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

While the Common Trust theme for this year is fairness, I would like to focus here on the tenet of RESPECT. As School parents, you may be wondering how the decision was made to close USM on Monday, January 21, to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Certainly there is more than one way to honor the legacy and message of Dr. King. In previous years, School was in session, so that our educators could offer students appropriate programming and community-service opportunities to recognize the specific day. (Please note that, even though school will be closed that day, there are many service opportunities for older students* and special assemblies are being held around the time.) It is generally agreed, however, the work of Dr. King should not be confined to one day of recognition, but rather we should work every day to help make the world a better place.

Then, around this time last year, I received a request from an Upper School student saying that USM would demonstrate more respect for the life and dream of this great American by being closed on this federal holiday.

Now, respect is a two-way street, of course, and so I considered her request seriously. While appreciating her arguments, I was not totally convinced until I reached the end of her proposal. This young lady had used her initiative and USM training to research how MLK day is observed at my two previous schools and had discovered that both prior schools do close in observance of this day and, in fact, I had initiated this at my last school. USM students certainly know how to make a case! This is a great example of how our students acquire the skills necessary to advocate articulately and passionately.

In this way, the decision was made. I do hope all our students respect the spirit of MLK this coming Monday and celebrate the day in service to others. The legacy of Dr. King lives in each of us.

*To encourage Upper School students to make it a "day on, not a day off,” USM has decided that service performed on MLK day will count as double hours towards the community service requirement for graduation.