Uniforms issue drives
civics lesson
From
publicopiniononline.com from the Web, December 23, 2007
Three Greencastle-Antrim High School
Government and Economics classes hosted an open forum last month on the question
of adopting a school uniform policy at GAHS.
Students researched and debated the pros and cons of bringing uniforms to the
district. Students Erin Beard, Danel Berman, Katie Ehrhart, Randall Gates,
Justine Greenwood, Ange Hoffman, Brinna Hoover, Brittany Lackey, Lance Miller
and Todd Nesbitt then presented their findings to an audience of about 65
students, parents, teachers, administrators and school board members in the high
school auditorium.
We would like to thank Franklin County Judge Richard Walsh for serving as the
forum moderator. Judge Walsh's participation helped to foster civility and
order. We would also like to thank GASD school board members Dan Fisher
and Mike Shindle, and GA parent Annette Group for serving as panel members, and
providing valuable insight from the school board's and parent's perspectives.
The forum would not have been successful without the support of GASD
administrators, whom we would also like to thank.
The forum was planned, advertised and presented entirely by our students.
Their speeches were informative, well-organized and skillfully delivered.
We, as teachers, were proud of the students' work and presentations.
The students conducted this activity as a result of a federal Civics Learn and
Serve grant obtained by the GA Social Studies Department from the Pennsylvania
Department of Education.
We received additional assistance and supplies from Ron Nirenburg, classroom
manager of Student Voices, which is a civics initiative based at the Annenberg
Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
The forum provided students an opportunity to practice their public speaking
skills and to engage in an evening of civil discourse. It is our
hope that through these activities, our students will be encouraged to continue
their civic involvement long after they graduate.
Ellen Kirkner, Devin McCauley,
GAHS Social Studies teachers.
(Emphasis Added)
GayPASG Note:: We hope you will be noting the emphasis we have been
placing on restoring civics in school and civility in society in general. With
adequate civics in the school system it would be generally understood that we
are a secular nation and respect citizens right to their religion but that in no
way do they have the right to impose their religion on any one.
John Crowell Campbell
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