On the third Monday of January each year, the United States celebrates a national holiday to honor civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. As a student, MLK was passionate about education and its transformative power. His attitude towards learning serves as an inspiration to teachers everywhere.

Today, let’s take a look at his accomplishments as a student and his thoughts on the value of education.

Martin as a Student

Martin Luther King Jr., born in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, was an exceptional student from an early age. He skipped grades 9 and 11 in high school and enrolled at the prestigious Morehouse College at the age of 15.

After graduating from Morehouse with a degree in sociology, he entered Crozer Theological Seminary where he received a Bachelor of Divinity degree with honors. He then moved to Boston University where he earned a Ph.D at just 25 years old.

Martin's Views on Lifelong Learning

Throughout his life, MLK was passionate about education and its ability to break down barriers and create opportunities for those who were historically disenfranchised or disadvantaged due to their race or socio-economic class.

In one of his most famous speeches, “The Purpose of Education” (1947), he asserted that “true education deals with the total living being—the mind, the body, and the soul…it is concerned with life itself—not merely with imparting information which may be forgotten soon after it is learned." 

He further stated that “ "We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate."

Throughout his life, Martin Luther King Jr. worked tirelessly to ensure that people had access to quality educational opportunities regardless of their race or economic standing.

Sharing MLK Day as a Celebration of Valuing Education

As teachers, we can all learn something from Martin Luther King Jr.'s passion for education and its ability to transform lives for the better. We must strive every day to provide our students with an education that goes beyond simply imparting knowledge.

Instead, we should focus on developing character traits such as intelligence plus courage – traits demonstrated by MLK himself throughout his life – that will help our students succeed not only in school but also in life. Thank you for taking this time today to reflect on MLK's legacy as a student and advocate for education equality!