Sign up for MLK essay contest, Socratic seminar to discuss nonviolence
Elgin Area School District U-46 is partnering with the City of Elgin's Human Relations Commission to recognize talented fourth through 12th grade student writers in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
The contest, organized through the commission's 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend Celebration Committee, aims to engage the most U-46 students in the history of the January celebration of the Civil Rights leader.
"This program honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy and encourages students to research and reflect on the ways we resolve conflict today," said U-46 CEO Tony Sanders. "Students who participate in the weekend celebration will learn how we might best apply Dr. King's values and vision to contemporary social and political issues."
Just as young students engaged in the Civil Rights struggle for equality in education 60 years ago, U-46 students are invited to participate through the essay contest and Socratic seminar around this year's theme "Nonviolence is the way and its method is love."
A Socratic seminar is a collaborative, intellectual dialogue facilitated with open-ended questions about a text and/or topic.
Fourth- through 12th- graders will be asked to research the theme's central question: "Is nonviolence the answer?" and then write an argumentative essay that must include research and not exceed 1,200 words.
Interested students must include their name, school and grade with submissions. Entries must attach a bibliography or works-cited page.
Candidates of the essay contest can then use their research and apply to participate in the Socratic seminar. The seminar will take place at 10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, at Larkin High School, 1475 Larkin Ave., Elgin.
Applications to the Socratic seminar are separate entries and can be submitted at www.edline.net/pages/SDU46.
The completed essay and Socratic seminar applications must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, to u46mlk@u-46.org.