Oct. 16, 2019 -- Students in Malik Daniels’ 2nd grade class at Roxboro Elementary are
exercising their right to freedom of expression. As part of an International
Baccalaureate unit called “Who We Are,” the class studied the rights and
responsibilities of American citizens, including the right to vote, to protest,
to practice their chosen religion, and to express themselves.
Mr. Daniels wanted to take the abstract concept of freedom of
expression “and make it come to life.” He allowed his young students to work in
pairs to brainstorm something, anything, that they wish they could change about their school.
Students were creative and wished for all kinds of things from a standing pizza
and ice cream lunch on Fridays to being allowed to bring pets to school.
Mr. Daniels was careful not to trample on anyone’s creativity or
anyone’s dreams. He never said “But what about the students with allergies?” He
simply supported his students’ ideas. “This all came from a child’s
perspective,” he said. “I let them go for it.”
Students created posters and went on a walking field trip to
Cedar-Fairmount where they waved their signs to share their ideas with the
public. “This was not a protest,” said Mr. Daniels, “just a way for them to express
themselves as American citizens.”
Students were met with honks and waves by both parents and
passersby. Two former Roxboro students, now adults, stopped to have a chat and
tell the children how amazing they were. Following their event, students wrote
about their experiences in their social studies journals.
