Eighteen Children from The Renaissance School in Williston met at Courthouse Plaza in downtown Burlington and marched up and into City Hall. Carrying banners and signs and singing songs from the civil rights movement, they even made a few speeches about their own dreams for a better world.

“We did this to make Martin Luther King Day come alive for the students. Instead of just talking about what Martin Luther King, Jr. did, we decided that there is nothing better than acting it out!” said Melissa Plante, the First and Second Grade teacher. “We try to do something more like a re-enactment of a civil rights march to show the children that they, too, have a voice, and that their voice can make a difference,” said Jenn Batten, a kindergarten teacher at The Renaissance School.

During the previous week, the students studied the civil rights movement, as well as the life of Dr. King and injustices against African Americans. They participated in discussions about how life was prior to the movement, during the movement, and now. The children’s parents expressed amazement at how much their children had learned about the civil rights movement.

“One parent came to school teary eyed, just so delighted that her child was learning so much about equality at such a young age,” said Batten.

The children also made signs, saying, “We are all Equal,” “We want Peace,” “Happy Birthday Martin Luther King, Jr.,” and “Happy Martin Luther King Day.” The children leading the march carried a banner they had made proclaiming “Universal Love.”

The students were well received by the people they encountered on their march. “I saw people smiling, waving, cheering us on, and the occasional honk from a car passing by,” said Plante.

Both teachers agreed that the best part was seeing the enthusiasm on the part of their students. “I was impressed to see how the students really wanted to make a change in the world,” said Plante.

Batten agreed. “The children have been talking a lot about solving their own disputes with words instead of actions. One child stated that he thought it was sad that the other schools have the day off and don’t celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.”