A few weeks ago, my spouse and I, along with millions of our closest friends from across the United States, marched in the Women’s March for America.
We participated in the march in Boston, which had an estimated 175,000 marchers. The speeches were inspirational, the signs were powerful and humorous, and the participants were passionate. But the most inspiring part for me was the number of children I saw.
Having worked in early education for over 10 years, I tend to view major events in our country through the lens of how they affect young children. Some of the children at the march were passive participants, sitting in their strollers as they were pushed through the large crowds. Let me be clear—there is absolutely nothing wrong with this! Children need to be exposed to acts of resistance like these. However, just as we expect adult participants to remain active in the fight, we should expect the same from children.
Ben Mardell, a Professor of Early Childhood Education at the Lesley University Graduate School of Education, asserts that “four-year-olds are citizens, not potential citizens, not citizens in training, but citizens, with rights and obligations like all citizens.” I caught a glimpse of this sentiment at the march. Two young girls were alternating chants of “Kids’ rights are human rights” and “Peace and love for President.” Other children held handmade signs that read “Believe in yourself to change the world” and “Peace and all people can go to playgrounds.” One of my favorites was “Nasty Kids Against Trump.”
These chants gave me chills, and those signs brought tears to my eyes. These children had clearly received some education on civil rights, social justice, and civics. But where did they get this education? Was it at home? At school? As a preschool teacher, I always talked about elections and Martin Luther King Jr., but these children had a deeper understanding. They were being taught to be active citizens. I’m sure there were more children at the march who were just as engaged as the four I saw, but that isn’t nearly enough. We need ALL of our children to understand their rights as citizens of the United States and how they can exercise those rights. This thought consumed me during the march, and here’s the conclusion I reached:
I’m going to use my experience and degree in early childhood education and policy, along with my passion for families and politics, to help children across the country find their voices. I want to help build a United States for Kids—a place where children are educated about social justice issues and know how to make their voices heard. A place where children are as excited to turn 18 to vote as they are to turn 16 to drive. A place where children are active participants in both protests and playgrounds. Watch this space for book lists, activity ideas, and resources on how to ensure that our children are active in this great country that belongs to all of us.
This post is an edited version of an original blog post I previously published.
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