Legacy of a Dream

On Jan. 29, at 2:30pm, 4th graders will present “I Have A Dream” at the annual Primary School assembly honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The tradition of having the 4^th grade perform a civil rights speech was instituted by Music and Drama Teacher Charmaine Hamann over a decade ago. Each year, the oration recognizes a different aspect of King’s legacy.

The oration requires students to explore the subtext of King’s words because “they are tasked with bringing the speech alive for their audience,” said Charmaine. In class, students develop the dramatic skills that will help them do this such as formal vocal projection, enunciation, choral recitation, and synchronized dramatic movements.

 

As students explore the text and imagine themselves living in the 1960s, they discover what was relevant then and what remains relevant today. “There is still so much work to be done with regard to civil rights for everyone,” Charmaine said. “Around the globe there are many issues that challenge us to open our eyes and embrace human rights for everyone. This assembly is a milestone for 4th graders in furthering that awareness. It empowers them to be change agents in the world and century they inhabit.”

 

Over the years, the oration has highlighted other important civil rights leaders—Nelson Mandela; Corretta Scott King; and The Elders—as well as historical milestones—the passage of new civil rights laws since the march on Washington in 1963; the election of Barak Obama, the first African-American president of the United States; the dedication of King’s monument on the National Mall; and the fiftieth anniversary of King’s “I Have A Dream” speech.

 

4th grade parents are cordially invited to attend this event in the Parkside theater. 3rd and 5th graders will also attend to cheer on their third floor peers!