SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO AM) Many school districts in South Dakota have King Day off, but the holiday is a teaching moment in Sioux Falls.
"How much do kids get out of a holiday if they are at home playing video games or at the mall," says School District Spokesman Ben Schumacher explaining part of the reason why King day is not a day off in Sioux Falls.
He says there were many special events in the schools to mark King Day, At Roosevelt High, recordings of the famed civil rights leaders' speeches were playing on the public address system between classes, instead of music. There was a big 'I Have a Dream' poster on which kids werwe encourage to put sticky notes with their dreams. Another example says Schumacher at at Harvey Dunn Elementary where a third grade class held a silent march through the lunch room.
Some people say King Day is too quiet in Sioux Falls, not like it used to be.
"Things are so quiet here on Martin Luther King Day and I really don’t want that to continue,” she said. "Years ago, we marched down the street with everyone and we don’t do that anymore." Annette Mahone, a board member for the South Dakota African American Museum at the Washington Pavilion tells KSFY-TV.
King Day is still very much a day of service. Nearly a dozen nonprofits were to be the beneficiaries of a full Monday afternoon of helping in the community.
Locally, a variety of hands-on service projects will be available at Sunnycrest Retirement Village (3900 S. Terry Ave) between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM.
This event is open to the public and no reservations are required; simply show up and lend a hand.