Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy at Eaglebrook

The day began with a special Assembly led by Ms. Yuan-Hsiu Lien, who provided key context and background on why we honor this day as a country. She encouraged students to follow Dr. King’s example by learning to ask why, learning to listen, and learning to pose questions even when things are unclear or uncomfortable. Importantly, she encouraged students to think of the holiday as a day “on,” not a day “off.”

Students then followed their normal class schedule, but with a distinct difference. Across all seven periods, students had opportunities to commemorate Dr. King’s legacy through their studies. Below are just a few examples of what our Eaglebrook students were up to:

In Mr. Olmsted’s Fifth Form English class, students have been analyzing Animal Farm through the lens of rhetorical strategies—ethos, pathos, and logos. Using the same approach, students then applied their learning to an analysis of Dr. Martin King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and discussed their findings. 

Mr. Goodrow’s Fifth Form History class reviewed famous Supreme Court cases and their broader impact on American society, including Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education. Students of Goodrow’s Sixth Form Japanese History class learned about civil rights activist Fred Toyosaburo Korematsu, who opposed the Japanese American internment during World War II.

Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Formers of Ms. Emily Bedell’s Geometry classes learned about quilt codes, which may have been used during the Underground Railroad to help enslaved people escape via secret messages. Although Ms. Bedell emphasized to her students that historians debate the existence of the quilt codes, they have left a lasting legacy. Students during her class made their own quilt drawings, with each block containing a message. 

Over in Science, Mr. Richard Lee’s Sixth Form Biology students were taught about the “Mother of Modern Medicine,” Henrietta Lacks, and the ethical debate on whether scientists should use patients’ cells without their consent. In his Fifth Form lesson, students studied how forensic DNA has overturned wrongful convictions, focusing on Anthony Wright’s case in particular.  

Mr. Richard Dorsen’s Fifth Form math class examined the connection between the interconnected nature of circuits and our own communities, where every person’s role is an integral part of a larger, working system. They also learned about the famous African American inventor, Lewis Howard Latimer, whose work improved the manufacturing process for carbon-filament lightbulbs. 

Mrs. Emily Fay’s art students learned about activist art throughout history and beautifully recreated Banksy’s “Girl with Balloon.” The piece is one of his most famous, representing the belief that there is always hope.

Together, these lessons reflect Eaglebrook’s commitment to honoring Dr. King’s legacy not only through remembrance but through meaningful action in the classroom.