Harvey Milk Civil Rights AcademySan Francisco public elementary school

Principal Velasco Talks Teaching Civil Rights to Kids

Monday, July 12th, 2010

Principal Christina Velasco appeared live on ABC 7′s View From the Bay today to talk about teaching civil rights to kids. Watch this six-minute video of her talk:

From View From the Bay’s Web site:

Think first grade is too early to teach about civil rights? Think again!

The following 10 statements come from the Harvey Milk Academy’s first grade class and they speak truth to power. Kids teaching kids about what it means to be tolerant.

1. Accepting Everyone
2. Rights for All
3. Violence is hateful
4. Everybody wants to be loved
5. You are the one to make the world a better place
6. Make peace everywhere
7. Including everyone in friendship
8. Loving people that are different
9. Kindness for those who are hurting
10. Hoping for Human Rights.

In addition, it is important that parents take action to these statements in the following ways:

1. Parents need to make sure their children’s and their friends include a diverse group of people. Allow kids to have experiences beyond your own family experience. Make “play dates” intentionally diverse such as playing in a different neighborhood and extending play to schoolmates beyond your own classroom.
2. Making sure kids and families have opportunities to learn from primary sources. Parents should select multicultural literature that is culturally relevant and meaningful. Selecting books that speak to social just issues.
3. Empowering kids to give back to a community and people that may be struggling. Teaching them that their empathy can actually support others.
4. Teach your children to be non-violent. Teach them to be problem solvers that use their words impeccably.
5. Teach children to advocate for others.