The Academy Awards may not have honored the Mr. Rogers’ documentary, but many schools across the country have. One is The Colorado Springs School (CSS), which hosted a screening of the 2018 documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor? in February. The film highlights Fred Rogers’ radically kind ideas and how he helped children navigate some of life’s toughest emotions on his long-running PBS television show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.“In today’s anxiety-ridden world, sometimes it feels as though the challenges of childhood, and therefore parenting, are overwhelming,” says Jessica James, director of communications and advancement at CSS. “We want to offer the community a reason to connect and be in conversation with each other around a simple message of goodness. Mr. Rogers uplifted many of us as children and through this film, his legacy can inspire us as adults to harness the power of kindness.”
In the Mr. Rogers spirit, 75 attendees, including some parents of alumni and members from the broader community, were encouraged to wear their favorite cardigan, and milk and cookies were served in the lobby. That’s where thoughtful discussion followed the film, including how to deal with children’s deep feelings, Mr. Rogers’ cultural significance, and how the show engaged with social issues.
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