EDGEWATER -- After months of memorizing and practicing a series of lyrics, a group of youngsters remembered a famous black leader through song.Second- and third-graders at Discovery Days Institute sang about civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. for about 30 minutes in front of their parents and schoolmates Tuesday. For many of the children, the memorization and study on black history was a way to strengthen focusing skills, teacher Mary Sullivan said.
About 13 of the 20 students have trouble concentrating due to an attention deficit disorder. Memorizing the lyrics and introductions to the songs helped them learn to focus and performing in front of their peers and family was an instant reward, Sullivan said.
"People clap, so once they get that wonderful feeling of doing something right, they focus even better," she said. "It helps them in a lot of ways; it gives them confidence."
Their introductory song was about how everyone is created equal, with lyrics that touched on how people shouldn't be judged by the color of their skin. Standing side by side and doing hand gestures along to the music, the children sang: "I'm your sister, I'm your brother and we've got something to say. Side by side with family pride, we're the kids of the U.S.A."
Matthew Shells, 8, said he learned King was a great man who spoke against inequality and hatred. Even though he was a little worried about performing, he said he was glad to sing in front of the crowd.
"I usually get stage fright, but I just looked at the fence so it looked like I was looking at the people," he said.
His second-grade classmate, Jocie Allard, 7, said she almost didn't go to school because she had a sore throat, but came in because she wanted to be in the program.
She said King spent many nights in jail and was a famous preacher who "saw one people, united on this earth."
Parent Caren Jones came to see her son, Josh, 8, sing songs he had been practicing since September.
"He would practice and sing them to me," she said.
Josh said he was proud and had fun even though he was nervous on stage.
"When we were singing the songs all together, I looked at my mom so I wouldn't have stage fright," Josh said.
Students practiced the songs once a week for about six months with music specialist Anita Wimbish, who said they made lots of progress.
Each pupil chose their speaking parts, which delved into a little history on the civil rights movement. They also learned some hand motions to go with the music.
"What I wanted to do was help the kids see that children their age could do something and be successful at it," Wimbish said.
kelly.cuculiansky@news-jrnl.com
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