Day Of Silence
This morning, Jeanine and I were treated to a fourth grade presentation on the civil rights movement in the southeast region of the country. It was a timeline of PowerPoint presentations, from slavery to the civil rights movement.
Our son Zachary presented the book he read with a classmate. Excellent work.
What struck me though, was the two parents that came up to me and mentioned that Zachary had told their son that he was going to be silent one day at school. That is was a protest.
I was surprised. We had talked about the Day of Silence and what it was for over dinner the other night. Jeanine is organizing the students at Berklee who want to participate.
Zachary, obviously, soaked it in. He told his friend that it was about the violence against gays and lesbians- he didn't understand the bisexual or transgender piece- and it was about being silent in protest of that violence.
Then, I was proud. Yes, I explained. It is... and we talked about it as we walked out over the school yard.
I found this video on the http://www.dayofsilence.org/ site.
It is wrong. I've emailed Zachary's teachers and offered to go speak about why Zachary will be silent that day.
My son made me so proud today.
Our son Zachary presented the book he read with a classmate. Excellent work.
What struck me though, was the two parents that came up to me and mentioned that Zachary had told their son that he was going to be silent one day at school. That is was a protest.
I was surprised. We had talked about the Day of Silence and what it was for over dinner the other night. Jeanine is organizing the students at Berklee who want to participate.
Zachary, obviously, soaked it in. He told his friend that it was about the violence against gays and lesbians- he didn't understand the bisexual or transgender piece- and it was about being silent in protest of that violence.
Then, I was proud. Yes, I explained. It is... and we talked about it as we walked out over the school yard.
I found this video on the http://www.dayofsilence.org/ site.
It is wrong. I've emailed Zachary's teachers and offered to go speak about why Zachary will be silent that day.
My son made me so proud today.
Labels: hate crime, job discrimination, LGBT issues, LGBT leadership, lgbt rights, parenting
posted by Sara at 10:39 AM
7 Comments:
you have a great reason to be a proud mama bear!! and great reason to be proud of yourself for raising such a great boy!
I have chills. The sentiment that your young son is showing is very moving.
Thank you for sharing.
I normally read your blog with interest but never comment. This one is different. You should be very proud about Zachary, he is a role model to other kids for taking this informed leap to action.
Just a thought, but have you ever considered expanding this to the entire Williams community? Although the national day falls on April vacation why not a mini-educational day or assembly to address hate. Like Zachary, my son is sensitive to these issues and it might help to address them on a school-wide level. He is a 2nd grader who is often made in fun of for being "girly" by other boys in his grade because he is a competive gymnast and a competitive ballroom dancer who sometimes wears his hair in a colored fau-hawk. Willaims does a great job addressing the importance of diversity and I think this would be a great expansion to further educate our children.
that's awesome. you have every right to be proud of that kid!
I've emailed the teachers, wanting to go in and explain what Zachary is doing but the principal is out of town until after break and after April 25th, and they asked that I come in after the principal is back and parents can be notified.
because you know, talking about LGBT issues is all about sex sex sex.
I'm going down to talk to them in a few minutes- they really want to be helpful but they like their jobs, too.
The thing is, we've been bugging Zachary to take a leadership role in his class. There's been bullying going on, and he's friends with the bullies and the bullied.
It seems he is, isn't he?
And the national day does fall on the vacation day.
he wanted to do it next friday, the day before vacation.
That is incredible....both of you should be VERY proud....
And Zach? He is an amazing young man!
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