In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and at a historic moment when Kamala Harris just became the first female, first black, and first Asian-American Vice President in United States history, we are taking this week to reflect on and share some of our community’s commitment to social justice.  

At Lincoln School, we explore issues related to social justice, equity, and inclusion through our critical work in The Center for Justice, Peace, and Global Citizenship, but also in our curriculum and with our community. This work extends from our littlest learners through our Upper Schoolers, engaging them in age-appropriate ways to examine history, encourage critical reflection, and empower them to take action to change the world in ways that both matter to them and make a difference in the lives of others.

Some of the highlights of our curriculum and community in action:

• In Ms. Jackson’s Oak Room class (pictured above), children learned about the legacy and life of Martin Luther King, Jr. The students read a book together that shared Dr. King’s history and message of equality, inclusion, and kindness. They then visited classroom windows to share their own messages of love and peace with the Lincoln community in a safe and socially distant way.
• Last week, seniors celebrated Lumina, Lincoln's celebration of inner light and love of community, in a reimagined way. In honor of the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and with the backdrop of our soon-to-be-graduates holding lit candles, we were reminded of the power of light and the importance of love to improve the worlds both around and within us: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
• In Language and Power class, Martha Douglas-Osmundson and Emma Stenberg are reading Kaori Hall’s play The Mountaintop, which takes place at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis on April 3, 1968.
• In Middle and Upper School visual arts, this year’s curriculum is focused on the topic of identity. In Advanced Studio, Studio Art, and The Art Major, students are being asked to examine their own identity, along with historical and modern artists who create across media, to create work that showcases their unique perspective on themselves and the world.
• In art glass, Grades 3-5 have been studying the work of Angélica Dass, discussing and drawing the different shades of race and skin tones. Dass’ Humanae Project is described by the artist as “a photographic work in progress attempting to document humanity’s true colors rather than the untrue labels “white,” “red,” black” and yellow associated with race."
• In Philosophy class, the current unit is dedicated to social justice, in particular exploring where particular laws, beliefs, and practices come from in terms of underlying moral principles and models of reality. 

This is just a small look into how we put our school mission—to educate students to fearlessly embrace the opportunities and responsibilities of full citizenship in a complex world—into action. 

As John Minahan, teacher of the Philosophy class mentioned above, stated: “That may sound a bit daunting in the abstract, and in fact, it is hard work, but it's also the kind of thing Lincoln's young women do so well, which is make an effort, both as individuals and in community with each other, to discover just what needs to be done to make the world a better place for everyone.”