5 Lessons to Teach Students from the life of Martin Luther King Jr. -

Monday is almost here, and with it comes a day to remember the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As educators and/or parents, it is absolutely essential to use these opportunities to educate our young ones. Dr. King’s life allows for many lessons to be taught to our students. While teaching diversity and inclusion are vital, there are even more lessons to be found within Dr. King’s example! Here are 5 lessons that I think are essential for students to embrace.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Lessons from MLK Jr.

1. Persevere

“If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” MLK

The task Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. set out to do was not easy. In the end, it took his life. However, he did not give up. When the road was long, hard, and bleak, Dr. King persevered! He believed in his cause and he would not stop until real change took place. It is important to ask students what ways they could persevere when their life gets hard.

2. Seek Justice

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” MLK

Students need to learn the importance of promoting justice in their everyday life. Dr. King spent almost his whole life seeking to abolish injustice around the Southern United States and further. If we don’t continue to teach our students to seek justice, we will continue to have much injustice in the world. Ask your students, “Have you encountered something that was unjust in your life? What could you have done to promote justice, love, and mercy? How does MLK’s life encourage us to seek justice?”

3. Forgive

“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.” MLK

If a man who was oppressed, screamed at, looked down upon, and persecuted can say that forgiveness is a constant attitude, we can certainly learn how to forgive. Teaching forgiveness to students is such an important lesson. Share with students how difficult it must have been for MLK to forgive his oppressors, but he did it anyway. Teach them that if he was able to do it, so can we! If you choose not to forgive, in the end, you’re only harming yourself with bitterness.

4. Dream

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by their character.” MLK

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. certainly dreamed big for his time. He was not satisfied with the injustices he and many others faced each day. Sometimes, the task probably seemed surmountable, yet he dreamed on. Teaching our students to think bigger, dream bigger, to not be satisfied with mediocrity is so important. Challenge your students to think deeply about what could be better in their life. Then have them brainstorm ways to fix it. Finally, encourage them that they CAN make their dream happen with hard work, ambition, and perseverance.

5. Hope

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” MLK

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was not able to see the full fruition of his work, yet he did not give up hoping for a better tomorrow. Additionally, his hope was rooted in something deeper than this fleeting world. His hope was rooted in his faith in God. Teaching students to never give up hope even when life seems bleak is a valuable life lesson. Ask students what they can hope in. Use Dr. King’s example of his hope in God as a good foundation for unwavering hope.

As you can see, there are many vital lessons for students of all ages to learn from Dr. King’s life. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to teach your kids about these life lessons!