In English Stage 4 are currently focusing on the art of rhetoric and the ability to compose and present clear and confident speeches. This week I familiarised Stage 4 with Martin Luther King’s famous, ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. We began by watching a video of the speech and followed with a transcript. To complement this we also watched Kevin Rudd’s apology speech and Emma Watson’s address to the UN on women’s rights as both of the later speeches are contemporary and Stage 4’s objective was to attempt to reach an understanding of the importance of each and its relevance today. Contextually Martin Luther King’s speech is not as pertinent to today’s students; thankfully much of the freedom and equality he fought for is now seen as the norm. This left Stage 4 struggling somewhat to understand the significance of the speech from its time. To better support their comprehension we watched the film, ‘Remember the Titans’. It is the story of a Gridiron team who fight to overcome racial segregation. This helped students to make the connection to Martin Luther King’s struggle for racial equality. For many of them this has highlighted how lucky they are to not have to struggle like many races and ethnicities do, everyday.
Our students recognised that they are blessed to be part of a community wherein they are all seen as equals. Regardless of their background, race or ethnicity they are treated the same. They don’t live in fear of being abused or assaulted each day because of their race. For most, the equality that they are blessed with is their norm; they play in multi-cultural teams with teammates from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Stage 4 have impressed me with the work they have produced and their understanding of Martin Luther King’s speech and its relationship to ‘Remember the Titans’.
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