Peace of Mind and Arts Education During the Black Lives Matter Year of Purpose
On February 3, 2021, students and staff from Lafayette ES gathered virtually for a special “Wellness Wednesday” during the Black Lives Matter at School Week.
Educator Linda Ryden, who leads the Peace of Mind program that integrates mindfulness-based social and emotional learning, conflict resolution and social justice, opened the session. The group paused for a mindful moment and practiced belly breathing and mental scans for check-ins with their bodies. Ryden continued with a brief introduction of the Black Lives Matter at School national movement and the week of action. Centering the 13 guiding principles of empathy, restorative justice, and loving engagement, Ryden offered developmentally appropriate language for the guiding principles and why they're important for students at Lafayette ES and all young people.
Then music educator Meaghan Carrol welcomed students to their virtual music lesson and informed them of a song they will be focusing on for an upcoming project in connection to Black History Month and the Black Lives Matter at School week of action.
Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing is known to many as the Black national anthem. The group watched a video of Committed Sings rendition of the song and practiced singing the lyrics.
“We can connect to this piece and the incredibly powerful words to this day because there are still inequalities in our country,” stated Carrol. Exploring some of the history of the song, Carrol shared that the song was first sung by 500 school children for Lincoln’s birthday in 1900. “Students went out and taught it to their families, became teachers and taught it to their students”
This song and story is living testimony of the Intergenerational and Unapologetically Black guiding principles.
As part of the Black Lives Matter at School Year of Purpose, Lafayette 1st-5th graders were inspired by excerpts from Amanda Gorman's poem, "The Hill We Climb" and the tradition of story quilts to create their own "quilt" squares using a variety of art materials. They also launched a digital art installation inspired by excerpts from Amanda Gorman's poem, "The Hill We Climb" and the tradition of story quilts.
At the March 17 “Wellness Wednesday,” art teacher Laurie McLaughlin and Andrea Perll debuted a website where you can view the story quilts as well as a video featuring the soundtrack from the Lafayette “Lift Ev’ry Voice” Choir.
Related resource
Kelly Starling Lyon’s Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations, a story about the generations of families who gained hope and strength from the song's inspiring words.
“Lift Every Voice and Sing” was initially a piece of poetry written by James Weldon Johnson in 1899. The first public performance of the piece took place in Jacksonville, Florida #OTD in 1900 at the Edwin M. Stanton School where Johnson was the Principal at the time. #BHM pic.twitter.com/yCcrtY16HH
— Smithsonian NMAAHC (@NMAAHC) February 12, 2021