Rochester, NY –
Wednesday, February 14, 2018 is the 200
th
anniversary of the birth of Frederick Douglass. The Rochester City School District will engage students to learn about Frederick Douglass and his legacy during this
Year of Frederick Douglass
.
Students will imagine the responses of Frederick Douglass to the events and situations in current society using the question, “What would Douglass do?” Story opportunities in District schools include the following.
Conversations with Rochester’s History Series: Lulu Westbrook Griffin will address students in grade 8 from John Walton Spencer School No. 16, Helen Barrett Montgomery School No. 50, and World of Inquiry School No. 58 at Central Office, 131 W. Broad Street, in the Modern Learning Space on the 2
nd
floor, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm.
- Lulu Westbrook Griffin will share her story of the events that occurred in Americus, Georgia in 1963, where at the age of 12, she was arrested for protesting segregated movie theaters. As a result of peacefully protesting, Lulu, along with several other girls aged 10-16, were locked up in a Civil War stockade for more than 40 days. The District’s Instructional Technology team will livestream the event back to the three schools so students there can participate and pose questions. This event is a collaborative effort between the District’s Social Studies and Information Management & Technology departments.
Cake celebration and selfie booths at Northeast High School at the Douglass Campus, 940 Fernwood Park in the cafeteria, 12:00 – 2:00 pm.
- The Douglass campus will be celebrating the life and legacy of Frederick Douglass throughout the week of February 12. On each day of the week, students will analyze notable Douglass quotations, learn about his life, and reflect on a specific character trait that Douglass exemplified. On his birthday, February 14, the school will celebrate Frederick Douglass during student lunches, including cake and selfie booths.
Birthday party with James P.B. Duffy School No. 12 students at the Douglass Branch Library, 971 South Avenue, 3:30 pm.
- School No.12 is collaborating with the Douglass Branch Library to host a birthday party for Frederick Douglass and see an historical reenactor. School No. 12 families and staff are invited to attend a special photo shoot of the Douglass statue in Highland Park by flashlight on the evening of February 14 at 6:30 pm in conjunction with the RIT big shot team.
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