A PROGRESSIVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Young humans are sponges and thankfully at the Wickliffe Progressive School  in 43221 they are taught the 3 “C’s”  CIVILITY, COMMUNITY AND COMPASSION that are the foundation of the progressive education gotten at this school.  As progressive educators they believe that it is THEIR RESPONSIBILITY to raise social consciousness by encouraging the school’s community to examine AND ACT UPON issues within a social society.  A grant was awarded that integrates art into their curriculum by introducing Rosemary Marston’s Social Justice In-Class Residency initiative.  Through theatre games, ensemble building, art making and creative writing, 125 5th grade students will reflect on their experiences of being a young person today.  We write grant overview today   in the shadow of  the VALENTINE’S DAYS MASSACRE in Parkland Florida.  These 5th graders are presently exploring identity, community, civility, compassion, hopes/fears/dreams, biases and privileges as individuals locally and globally.  As the process unfolds, the students will develop and create a vision for an “end product” to showcase their learning that will be shared with their entire school community – K-4th grade –  and their adult guests.  We wish all of our congressional representatives are invited to attend. We write this today as we always remember as PFW  hosts an empty chair at the Columbus Dance Theatre’s annual presentation to elementary students to come and watch their performance of Match Girl  that CDT was  dancing   during  the massacre  at Sandy Hook, unbeknownst to all  in attendance until we left the theatre.   www.uaschools.org