Columbus Elementary School took special steps to explain and teach the importance of Juneteenth. And its effort is not simply for one day – a much larger initiative is underway.
The school purchased two books for every teacher in Columbus -- 70 in all -- so it could begin a school-wide, years-long project to study Juneteenth and the associated parts of American history often minimalized in curricula. Teachers read to their classes "What is Juneteenth?" and "Juneteenth for Mazie." Class discussions followed, and teachers asked students to document and share their questions, wonderings, insights, and more from those conversations on shared bulletin boards near the main office. The photos depict some of the many projects. In addition, students are given the “responsibility to be able to explain Juneteenth to their families, to explain why Monday (was) a holiday for the first time in City School District of New Rochelle schools."