January 20 18 - The F ig Tr ee - Page 3
North Idaho schools work with human rights task force The Kootenai County Task Force for Human Relations (KCTFHR) is organizing the 33 rd annual Children's Program Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. 's Works on Thursday, Jan. 11, at Lake City Community Church, 6000 N. Ramsey. About 900 fifth graders from 10 Coeur d'Alene schools will meet at the church at 9:30 a.m., and about 600 fifth graders from six Post falls schools will be there at 1 I :30 a.m. The program on "Don't Be Little, Be Big: Courage, Safety, Value and l(jndness" is presented by Stu Cade, an educator and actor residing in Coeur d'Alene. Offices for his Ovation Company are in Denver. The students will be given bracelets with a big elephant and three little elephants, and the words of the theme. One child from each school will read an essay about a dream or someone who is their hero-Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., a grandparent or someone else. "It's an important age to teach children about kindness and respecting people," said Tony Stewart of the KCTFHR, noting that the school district has worked with the human rights organi2ation for 33 years to coordinate a children's Martin Luther King Jr. program. "It's one of the task force's signature projects." With more than 36,000 fifth graders introduced to human rights by this program over the years, Tony, who has gone to all 32 years of the events, noted that some of the first students are now in their 40s and have children attending. For information, call 208-765-3932.