The grade 10
Citizenship & Careers course includes an introduction to democratic
engagement. I decided to make this as
real as possible. First we took a democratic vote using three voting systems
-by riding, proportional and preferential – to decide on a cause the group felt
passionate about. In the end the votes
led to PPM 150, the 2011 Ontario law regulating food in schools. The students
wanted to advocate for choice in the food dispensers and cafeteria. They interviewed the school kitchen staff,
the company representatives loading the dispensers and other students. Others
researched the details of PPM 150. Then we made placards and went onto the main
street of our town and demonstrated for Food Choice and Honk for Health! The
students also wrote a letter to the chair of our board of education, to which
he responded by coming to the classroom to commend the students for getting
involved in the political process. He explained that he was impressed that the students were making a political statement in public and that politics is not just a dirty word. He even suggested other ways they could get their message out! A gratifying teaching experience!
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I think the way that you introduced the concept of civic action to this class ingenious. So many students have no wish or interest to learn about political life and civic responsibility. This very practical hands on experience that the students participated in made it very applicable to their every day life. I think that the more we can bring practical aspects of living into the school room the better it will be for all students involved. The exercise they went through and the recognition that it brought them made it interesting for them and their lives. Having them work towards something they believe in showed the students that they can affect change, or bring notice to a particular issue. I think this was a great exercise for the students of this course to be part of.
ReplyDelete-Tiffany Reid