New London — OK. If you're going to quote someone, why not start with Einstein, right?

Sayeth Albert: "Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school."

And what happened Wednesday at the Garde will resonate in the minds of more than 800 kids from the city long after they've forgotten if it's really "I before E except after C."

Maybe the kids of the city thought Wednesday would be an extension of mini-February vacation, upon hearing the news they'd be seeing a movie instead of readin,' writin,' and 'rithmetic. Little did they know they'd get the educational experience of their lives.

Happens this way. The best learning comes when you least expect it. This column usually illustrates the whimsy of the fields and courts, mostly how the practical disciplines of sports — quick decision making, working with people of varying backgrounds and motivations — serve us the rest of our lives.

But this was in a theater, 800 of our kids watching "Hidden Figures," a movie about a group of African-American female mathematicians who rose through the ranks of NASA to calculate the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit. As one reviewer wrote, "Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Katherine Johnson crossed all gender, race, and professional lines while their brilliance and desire to dream big, beyond anything ever accomplished before by the human race, firmly cemented them in U.S. history as true American heroes."

Here is what the kids learned: aptitude, character and intelligence connect beyond race and gender.

And maybe better: They saw some of themselves in the characters.

And maybe best: They have a better reason to believe in tomorrow.

Can you think of better messages to send our kids?

Any kids?

"The New London Youth Talent Show started because all of our kids were 'hidden figures' to the community at large so it was easy to paint them with a broad brush of racism," New London attorney Sue Connolly said. "But we #RiseUp to do the right thing ... and to show the world the real story."

Indeed. Connolly, a member of the Talent Show's Rushmore, was instrumental in connecting the kids with the Garde, all the way to helping raise the funds to make it happen. She'd rather fade into the background than accept any applause. So we leave it here: Every kid in this city is better off because of her.

"As an engineer and a black female, this movie really resonates with me," said Nicole Reed, an engineer at Electric Boat. "People like Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson and Kathrine Johnson paved the way for people like me. There's still a struggle, but we've come a long way from where we were. Black women are the most educated demographic in the country in every level of education."

Moments earlier, Ethel Harris, who Connolly described as "a phenom from AT&T," told the kids, "I'm working on my fourth college degree. You never have enough education."

As the speeches to the kids — marvelously short and pithy — continued, I wondered something: What's it like to be a kid in New London? How do they perceive the world around them? I've written about them for 25 years now. Here's my answer: I don't really know. I never endured what many of them do. And have. Which is why my respect for the educators in the 06320 — and all the success stories they've inspired — is boundless.

And so maybe the city can't compete in many ways with the burbs. But we have something here other places don't: each other.

"It's a blessing to be in such a diverse town," musician and Talent Show organizer Frank Colmenares told the kids.

Curtis Goodwin, a graduate of New London High, business owner and face of the Talent Show, told the kids, "This movie is about how you can't let barriers stop you. That's what the Talent Show started for and what it's all about."

New London police officer Anthony Nolan said, "Pay close attention to this movie. It explains the struggles a lot of people have had. A lot of them haven't been identified like they should in trying to make the world a better place. But this movie shows everyone you have a hidden talent. Put that talent in your heart and put it in your life."

Amen, Anthony.

Amen.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.