NORTHAMPTON — The late-morning pickup of students at R.K. Finn Ryan Road elementary school looked and sounded different than usual during an early-release day Friday as a class of fifth graders marched outdoors rattling shakers and holding signs while chanting “Hands off Ukraine!”
The students advanced to the school’s playground as they walked in a clustered line around school grounds. In the crowd one could see a handmade sign of a sunflower, Ukraine’s national flower, and others that read, “Peace for Ukraine.”
Chants of “Stop Russian aggression” and “Peace for Ukraine” also could be heard as parents, bus drivers and faculty waved and clapped nearby.
“The people of Ukraine are brave for dealing with Putin,” said 11-year-old Kayla Wintle. She said it felt “amazing” to be able to participate in a such a rally to show support for Ukrainians.
Some of the adults on hand to pick their children were sporting Ukrainian flags and wearing its blue and yellow colors while others were recording the protest as the kids huddled up in a group at the end.
Fifth graders at R.K. Finn Ryan Road elementary school have been preparing the rally for the past week in their social studies class with first-year teacher Lina Patel. Patel teaches reading, writing and social studies to both fifth grade classes, and focused on planning this protest with her class during social studies.
“I think it’s really important to teach history through resistance,” Patel said. After coming back from February vacation, students were discussing their words for the week, and one of them was “conflict.”
Patel says she asked students about a conflict they could think of now, and some mentioned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. After speaking to her class, Patel says, many students were “riled up” about the war. This led to many conversations in the classroom, sparking the idea of a demonstration to show resistance against the invasion. That’s when the markers and papers came out, and students worked hard all week during class to make effective signs for this protest.
Ingrid Gilette, an 11-year-old fifth grader at Ryan Road, says she has family in Ukraine and “feels good to be having done something.”
“I think all of the Ukrainians are such a brave culture,” Gilette said.
Cole LaPalm, 10, says he was nervous at first to be in front of so many people, but after the protest felt really excited.
“I hope this inspires more people to do protests,” LaPalm said.
LaPalm and other students said they hope their protest helps creates change.
Beckett Stanley said he has “been waiting for this for a week.” He says he was nervous at first, too, but is hopeful the demonstration will bring change and show others they can start their own protests. Like some of this peers, Stanley said he heard about the war from his parents and talked about it more with their teacher, Ms. Patel.
“It is great to finally be able to do something,” 11-year-old Eric Hindle said.
Patel herself has been in protests in the past and told her students to inspire them.
“I feel so great, I have a lump in my throat,” said Patel, who was surprised at how well her students were able to keep their voices strong.
Principal Sarah Madden says she is happy she hired Patel and is “so pleased with the thought, care and research that went into this project.”
The students said they hope their protest reaches beyond their community and inspires others to start their own protests.
“I hope this war will stop and the world will be at peace forever,” LaPalm said.