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How a group of kindergarten girls and a microphone taught me a lesson in humanity: Cleveland’s Promise

I've said it before and I'll say it again -- we have as much to learn from Almira's students as they do from their teachers. Cleveland's Promise, a school in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, is teaching kindergarten girls a lesson in humanity. The school offers karaoke lunch to nearly every student, and a microphone is used to select songs for each other. The microphone picks up Aliyah's voice and she dances with Destiny and Makayla. The group sings together, and the song is chosen to provide an atmosphere of camaraderie and comfort.

How a group of kindergarten girls and a microphone taught me a lesson in humanity: Cleveland’s Promise

Được phát hành : 12 tháng trước qua hdrown, Hannah Drown | [email protected] trong Entertainment

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Aliyah bravely makes her way from her seat in the cafeteria to Mr. Nathan Pardon and taps his hand. Her 7-year-old voice is quiet, and he leans over slightly to hear her speak.

“Elsa,” Aliyah says in a near-whisper, referring to the iconic ice queen from Disney’s Frozen, and Mr. Pardon responds with a smile and a nod.

A few other girls in Almira Elementary School’s kindergarten class approach him next, and he tells them Aliyah will have the last karaoke song for the day. They’re visibly disappointed yet understanding, and they head back to their lunch trays and rejoin their friends.

I’ve seen a lot in the year-and-a-half I’ve spent at Almira that has stopped me in my tracks – both good and bad. But karaoke lunch, as it’s affectionally called, was the first.

I was on my way to the front office during my second week in the building, as a reporter working on cleveland.com’s special project “Cleveland’s Promise,” when I heard music coming from the cafeteria. I couldn’t help but poke my head inside, and I saw a room full of smiling students and one standing in the center with a microphone, belting out Katy Perry’s “Roar.” When the refrain came around nearly every student in the cafeteria joined in. It was magical.

When I first approached Mr. Pardon about writing a story about karaoke lunch, he seemed surprised. Afterall, Almira and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District offer the students a lot. And it’s just one small activity he coordinates for the kids, as the dean of engagement for the school. But not every elementary school lunchroom looks like this; mine certainly didn’t. And it’s clear the benefits for the students span beyond momentary mid-day fun.

Typically quiet, reserved kids take the microphone, perhaps the only time in the day when they’re comfortable with a small step into the spotlight. Lyric slip-ups and out-of-tune notes are disregarded, making way for an atmosphere of support and acceptance. There’s genuine camaraderie, as students from different grades, classes, social circles and backgrounds come together to sing along. And although Mr. Pardon allows for (appropriate) song requests, the songs he queues are intentionally chosen – empowering songs when the girls are at lunch and character-defining songs for the boys.

When “Let it Go” from Frozen begins to be play, Aliyah’s tiny voice is inaudible. She stands with the microphone to her mouth, but her head is tilted down and her eyes are looking straight ahead at the wall. It’s clear she’s nervous, but she perseveres and keeps going.

Destiny, who was told she wouldn’t get to sing today, notices Aliyah’s discomfort and remains by her side. Makayla, a karaoke regular, picks up on the situation as well and finds a spot on the other side of the young girl. They both instinctually put a supportive hand on Aliyah’s shoulder, and her head raises, slightly.

The song’s beat quickens, and Destiny and Makayla start to dance. It works – Aliyah cracks a faint smile, grabs Makayla’s hand and dances, too. The microphone finally picks up her voice.

By now, a few more students join the trio and form a line. Each girl puts her arm around the next and sings along. Before long, Aliyah’s voice is booming through the speakers.

Throughout the entire song, not one student tries to take the microphone for herself, even though many in the support system didn’t get the chance to sing today. And even if one had, she could have been trying to help. (I’ll admit that I occasionally have the urge to take over in an attempt to spare someone a moment of discomfort or pain.)

But without speaking a word to one another, they all knew what Aliyah needed – comfort, support, friendship and compassion -- and they provided it with grace.

Watching kindergarteners not only do the right thing, but do it effortlessly, carries some weight. Especially when many adults would struggle to do the same. It’s hard to know why -- though, we can speculate about the ways in which growing older in a brutal world can wear down our better angels.

But I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – we have as much to learn from Almira’s students as they do from their educators.

Today, a group of 7- and 8-year-old girls reminded me that sometimes people just need to know they’re not alone. And even if you don’t get the opportunity to do or have something, that doesn’t mean you can’t and shouldn’t cheer for those who do.

Sometimes, you have to let it go.

Thank you for reading Cleveland’s Promise. Please consider supporting journalism like this by joining our community of subscribers. With a paid subscription, you gain access to everything published by a team of journalists committed to providing accurate information on news, entertainment and sports in Northeast Ohio. Please subscribe here. -- Chris Quinn, Editor

For this innovative series, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District gave two reporters unprecedented access to a classroom at Almira Elementary School to show readers the challenges of educating children in poverty and what the school district is doing to overcome them. Students’ names have been changed to protect their identity. Read more about this project here.


Chủ đề: Ohio, Cleveland

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