Martin Luther King Day

I am definitely not one to speak on the topic of Martin Luther King. The day that honors him was not observed by my high school and only half way through my college career did the University acknowledge it by making it a holiday.

The past two weeks eastern Iowa has been hit hard by winter weather and has caused its number of days off from school. Those schools in the area that originally has taken this Monday off to observe MLK Day will now make up a day of school to avoid adding days to the school year in June.

Schools throughout the state of Iowa should have class on Martin Luther King Day every year. Coming from a white, rural town, Martin Luther was only brought up for a few days in history class as the unit focused on the 1960s. King was taught no differently than any other notable politicians of the 20th Century.

By having school on this day every year, schools should focus all classes on the Civil Rights leader and educate his importance in all facets of the curriculum. Rural Iowans need to be educated on King's life and ideology. By having school on his day should be the way to honor the man, not forget him.