On November 3, 2021, the San Mateo County Board of Education celebrated Saira Nanjapa, a third-grade student at San Carlos School District's Arundel Elementary School, for winning the San Mateo County Office of Education's first Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day poster contest. More than 250 art pieces were submitted by students across the county.
In her poster, Saira drew letters to show hate speech, clouds to stand for feelings of worry and frustration, rocks depicting the things that were thrown at Ruby, and rain to represent everything that was trying to bring her down. Despite all of this, Ruby is surrounded by light to show that she did not let these barriers stand in her way of coming to school.
Ruby Bridges is an American activist who became a symbol of the civil rights movement at age six when she was the youngest of a group of African American students designated to integrate schools in the American South. She was the only student of the group to enroll in William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana. On her first day of school on November 14, 1960, Ruby was escorted by four federal marshals and spent the entire day in the principal’s office as angry parents marched into the school to remove their children. Ruby became an icon for equality and desegregation as she courageously walked to school every day over the course of the year.
In 2018, fifth grade students attending South San Francisco Unified School District’s Martin Elementary School learned about Ruby’s role in the civil rights movement and were shocked to learn that there was no day to recognize her courage. The class collected more than 1,000 signatures in May 2018 and successfully persuaded the district’s Board of Trustees to declare every November 14th as Ruby Bridges Day.
When the County Office of Education’s Safe Routes to School team heard the presentation, they proposed making the day a walk-to-school day to emphasize the power of taking actions such as walking and began to promote it across the county and country. They saw how inspired students were by the idea that a six-year-old could make such a huge impact and that anyone, no matter who they are or how old they may be, could change the course of history. The class, in response, embraced the idea of a walk-to-school day, seeing it as a very simple way for students – and adults – to engage but also make a lasting impact.
Since Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day launched, the recognition day’s popularity has spread across the nation as a way to honor Ruby and take action to promote equity and inclusion. Participating schools have steadily grown each year, from 14 in 2018 to roughly 60 schools across San Mateo County and the United States in 2020. This year, many more schools nationwide are expected to participate as the California State Senate passed a resolution establishing November 14 as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, and Ruby Bridges Foundation adopted the walk-to-school day as a centerpiece of its work. The County Office of Education's Safe Routes to School team has supported, coordinated, facilitated, and promoted this effort from the beginning, and envisions every school in the nation participating in this student-led event.
San Mateo County families, school districts, and community members can learn more about Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day and how to participate on the County Office of Education website.