Month: February 2020

Champions of Free Expression

 

Learn about Alivin Schrader and other “Champions of Free Expression” at freedomtoread.ca .  These people and countless others lead the fight for our rights and freedoms.  Find out more about them and get inspired to join the fight.

February 23 – 29 is Freedom to Read Week in Canada.  This week we celebrate  our freedom to read. More than that, as citizens of Canada, we must recognize the ongoing fight to protect our freedom to read, and our other rights and freedoms, and to extend those rights and freedoms to all of humanity.

source: freedomtoread.ca

 

Black History Month at Curio.ca

In celebration of Black History Month, the CBC’s Curio.ca has put together a collection of video, audio and teacher resource guides. Students and teachers in Surrey Schools, and others with Curio.ca subscriptions, can access this collection for free! Find out more: Curio.ca

Here is an example of some of the content available to you:

 

Black Lives Matter: The Disruptors – The Fifth Estate (CBC)

The Origins of Black History Month in Canada and the United States

Find out more about the origins of Black History Month:

 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57035672
By Ernie Pryor / Kkhemet – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

 

Freedom to Read Week

February 23 to 29 is Freedom to Read Week in Canada.  Come down to the School Library to find out more.  We have a display of books and other resources related to our freedom to read, our right to have access to information, and our responsibility to exercise those rights and freedoms as informed, free-thinking citizens.  We will will also feature online resources, so be sure to check out our site, tweedsmuirlibrary.wordpress.com.

Freedom to Read Week 2020

Maybe the Best Pitcher Ever

Leroy Satchel Paige
Source: Wikimedia

Satchel Paige might be the greatest pitcher in the history of baseball. Sadly, when he was in his prime he did not get the chance to compete at the highest level, as the racism of the times kept black baseball players out of the majors. After Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s colour barrier in 1947, Satchel Paige finally got to play in the big leagues in 1948 at the age of 42.  Even at that age Paige was a dominant All-Star pitcher, and he became the first Negro Leagues player to pitch in a World Series.  He retired in 1953, although he came back in his 50’s for a brief 3 inning appearance in one game in 1965.  As good as he was in his short major league career, we are left to wonder what could have been had Paige had been able to pitch in the big leagues during his prime.

 

Find out more:

Come down to the School Library to check out our book displays for Black History Month

Bob Marley

Reggae legend Bob Marley was born on this day in 1945 in Nine Miles, Jamaica. Sadly, he died far too young, at only 36 years old, in 1981.  For more on the life of this amazing artist, take a look at some of the many books we have here in the school library.

Online you can also check out:

Rosa Parks

source: wikimedia commons

One of the icons of the US Civil Rights movement looked an unlikely hero but proved to be someone whose strength of character belied her appearance. Rosa Parks was born on this day in 1934.  In the face of the overt racism of 1950’s America, Rosa famously refused to give up her seat on the bus, as black people were expected to do for white people. She was arrested, and the resulting Montgomery Bus Boycott proved to be one of foundational events of the Civil Rights Movement.

 

 

For more on Rosa Parks:

 

Come down to the School Library to check out our titles on Rosa Parks and other books for Black History Month: