Teacher encourages others to learn more about Dr. King

Strolling through the streets of Selma, Sparkman Service Organization members learn about the Civil Rights Movement.

Strolling through the streets of Selma, Sparkman Service Organization members learn about the Civil Rights Movement.

With Martin Luther King Jr. Day being a national holiday in 1983, it became mandatory to have the dismissal of school to celebrate his birthday, but students often tend to forget the reason why.

To science teacher Twyla Maxtion, this national holiday is more than just a day off of work and she feels students should take the time to honor King and the work he did for not just African-Americans but for all society.

“It should be recognized as a holiday because of what he fought for,” Maxtion said. “He didn’t just fight for the equality of blacks, he fought for the equality of all people in general. I think that is enough within itself to be recognized as a holiday.”

To help others recognize the effect that Dr. King has on today’s society, Maxtion takes a group of students annually to Selma to learn more about the civil rights movement.

“We take a trip every year to Selma to commemorate Bloody Sunday which started the voting rights act of in 1965,” Maxtion said. “I think it’s important because the voting rights act isn’t really taught in school. They teach it, but they teach it in detail, so going down there and getting hands on experience is important for our students.”

Maxtion wants students to do their research on Dr. King and not just watch movies or listen to what they hear in their history classes.

“They should take the knowledge and use it for their benefit. They should study how and why he did the things he did and take it as a lesson to learn,” Maxtion said.

The Huntsville area is hosting a couple of events to honor Dr. King this weekend. An Art N Soul Martin Luther King, Jr. poetry night will be held at the Bob Harrison, Sr. Wellness Center. A canned good donation serves as admission. The annual MLK Celebration parade will also occur in downtown on Jan. 14.

“Going to a racially diversity school, appreciating all that Dr. King did for us becomes very important,” sophomore Shelby Lopez said. “Attending an event or learning more about him is the purpose of the holiday.”