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Learning about heroes who worked to make the community a fairer place for everyone.
Imagine you are playing a game of tag, but the rules say only kids with blue shirts are allowed to run. Does that feel right to you?
In our community, we want things to be fair. Fairness means making sure everyone has what they need to succeed. It is closely related to equality, which means treating everyone the same way. Sometimes, rules or laws are created that are not fair to everyone. When a rule treats one group of people better than another for no good reason, it is called unfair. Heroes are people who notice these unfair rules and work hard to fix them so that everyone is treated with respect.
1. Imagine a teacher has cookies for students. 2. If the teacher gives all cookies to just one student, that is unfair. 3. If the teacher gives cookie to each student, that is equality because everyone got the same amount.
Quick Check
If a rule says only tall people can use the playground, is that rule fair or unfair?
Answer
It is unfair because it leaves people out for something they cannot change.
Long ago, in the year , there were laws in some places that were very unfair. One law said that Black people had to sit in the back of the bus. If the bus got full, they had to give up their seats to White people. A woman named Rosa Parks decided this rule was wrong. One day, when the bus driver told her to stand up so a White person could sit down, she calmly said, "No." She was very brave because she knew she might get into trouble, but she wanted to show that the law was not fair.
1. Rosa Parks stayed in her seat to show the rule was wrong. 2. She was arrested, but her action caught the attention of the whole city. 3. Other people saw her bravery and decided to help her change the law.
Quick Check
What did Rosa Parks do when the bus driver told her to give up her seat?
Answer
She said 'no' and stayed in her seat to stand up for her rights.
After Rosa Parks said no, many people joined her. They started a boycott. This means they all agreed to stop riding the buses until the law was changed. For days, they walked to work and school in the rain and heat. Because so many people worked together, the leaders finally listened. The Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the land, ruled that the unfair bus laws had to stop. This shows that when one person is brave, it can inspire a whole community to change a rule.
1. One person (Rosa Parks) took a stand. 2. Thousands of people joined the boycott for over year. 3. The law was officially changed for the whole country. 4. This proved that brave act + many helpers = big change!
What is it called when everyone is treated the same way?
How long did the Montgomery Bus Boycott last?
True or False: One person's actions are never enough to change a law.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, try to remember the name of the woman who refused to give up her seat and the word for when people stop using something to create change.
Practice Activity
Draw a picture of a 'Fairness Hero' in your own school. What unfair rule would they change?