43
Chism-Pinkard teaches Robinwood students about Martin Luther King
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Fourth grade students at Robinwood Lane Elementary had the chance to meet Madonna Chism-Pinkard of WFMJ on Jan. 14.
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.The students listened as Chism-Pinkard talked about Martin Luther King and equality. She also shared stories from her life growing up.
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Chism-Pinkard finished her lesson on Martin Luther King and offered to answer any questions the students had about Martin Luther King or equality.
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Chism-Pinkard visited Jan Zorman's classroom to give a lesson on Martin Luther King in honor of Martin Luther King day approaching.
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
Robinwood Lane Elementary welcomed a special guest to Jan Zorman’s class on Jan. 14. Madonna Chism-Pinkard of WFMJ took a trip to Zorman’s class to talk to about 90 fourth-graders about Martin Luther King.
Three fourth-grade classes all had the opportunity to meet Chism-Pinkard and listen to her talk about Martin Luther King and the concept of equality. Chism-Pinkard was very enthusiastic about speaking to the children and visiting one of her previous teachers, Zorman.
“We’re having such a great day down here, it’s Martin Luther King day,” said Zorman.
The students gathered around Chism-Pinkard and listened intensely as she spoke about equality and Martin Luther King.
One of the things that got the children most interested was then Chism-Pinkard told them how she had the chance to meet and speak with Martin Luther King, III.
“It was thrilling to meet him because I have only seen pictures of his dad. Looking at his son, he had the same persona, the same booming voice, the same attitude that his dad did,” said Chism-Pinkard about King, III.
The students listened to stories about Chism-Pinkard and her family. She mentioned how her grandma, who she called ‘Mama Molly,’ still used her right to vote even though people didn’t want her to vote. She also talked about the fact that her father was the first black student at University of Jamestown in Fargo, N.D. The school created an award after her father, called the Talbert Chism Award.
“When Mrs. Zorman asks me for anything I do it. I tell students ‘Oh we went to school together,’ because she was my teacher, which was awesome,” said Chism-Pinkard.