Guest Column
Meira Levinson reflects on the aftermath and implications of the shootings at Congresswoman Gabby Giffords' "Congress on Your Corner" meet-and-greet. "What Can Schools Do to Promote Civil Dialogue?" is a must-read for those who are interested in the role of schools in fostering CIVIL POLITICAL DISCOURSE.
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Back to top.Good Reads
A new study by Joe Kahne looks at the effects of INTERNET USAGE on the civic knowledge and dispositions of youth. The results of the study are the subjects of three new working papers dealing with "politically-driven online participation, online exposure to diverse perspectives and interest-driven online participation." In addition, Kahne is chairing a new research network on Youth and Participatory Politics. Read more about the study, the working papers and the network at:
http://www.civicyouth.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/YPPMediaRelease.FINAL_.pdf
The February 2011 issue of THE PREVENTION RESEARCHER is devoted to service-learning and includes articles by Jim Kielsmeier and Shelley Billig.
http://www.tpronline.org/issue.cfm/Service_Learning
VOLUNTEERISM among youth has declined since its peak in 2005 according to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE). A new CIRCLE Fact Sheet, Youth Volunteering in the States: 2002 to 2009, looks at volunteering data across age groups and states, and offers snapshots of volunteering patterns in Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Seattle.
http://www.civicyouth.org/featured-youth-volunteering-in-the-states-2002-to-2009/
Back to top.NCLC News
NCLC is pleased to introduce three NEW MEMBERS of the District Leaders Network. DLN members are selected for their leadership and commitment to integrate and sustain quality citizenship education and service-learning in K-12 schools. Joining the DLN are: Ralph Bland, superintendent, Detroit Edison Public School Academy, Detroit, Michigan; Rhonda Coon, member, Williamston School Board, Williamston, Michigan; and Rick Kriesky, superintendent, Lexington City Schools, Lexington, North Carolina.
The American Bar Association has adopted a resolution urging that civic education be required for K-12 students. The resolution lays out "the pressing need to improve civic learning among our nation's youth," and uses results from NCLC's 50-state citizenship education POLICY SCAN in its argument.
http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/aba_calls_for_more_civics_education/
Participants from seven schools in the Campbell County Public School District took part in a day of service-learning training on March 4. Schools of Success member GRANT'S LICK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL hosted the event for about 35 teachers and administrators. Kudos from workshop participants to NCLC staff Lisa Guilfoile and Paul Baumann for their help with arrangements and to KIDS Consortium for conducting the training.
Back to top.Meetings & Events
The DISTRICT LEADERS NETWORK (DLN) will meet in conjunction with Youth Service America's Youth Service Institute Oct. 24-26, 2011, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Community Works Institute (CWI) is offering two opportunities for service-learning PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT this summer: CWI's Summer WEST Institute on Service-Learning and CWI's Summer EAST Institute on Service-Learning. For more information, visit their Web site.
http://www.communityworksinstitute.org
The National School Climate Council 14th Annual Summer Institute takes place July 12-14, 2011 in New York City. Co-sponsored by the City University of New York, School of Professional Studies, the institute brings together educators, district and state leaders, researchers, policymakers and parents to develop SCHOOL CLIMATE IMPROVEMENT plans that promote safe, caring and civil schools. For more information, visit their Web site.
http://www.schoolclimate.org/programs/si.php
Back to top.Names in the News
DONNAN STOICOVY attended the 15th Annual International Values and Leadership Conference in Umea, Sweden in September. She was co-presenter on The Role of Leaders Empowering Civic Engagement in Schools. The presentation looked at ways in which school leadership can foster civic engagement practice. Specifically it considered how leadership can foster conditions that encourage civic engagement activities and the potential ethical dilemmas in fostering democratic practice in schools. Stoicovy is principal at Park Forest Elementary School, a member of the NCLC Schools of Success.
http://nlods.com/
SUTTER MIDDLE SCHOOL, a member of NCLC's Schools of Success, is among those featured in "Rural Students Reap Academic Gains from Community Service," on the Edutopia Web site. Read about service-learning in the Fowler Unified School District in California's Central Valley.
http://www.edutopia.org/service-learning-fowler
Presenters at the ASCD Annual Conference in March included Paul Bauman, NCLC staff, and Peter Evans, Matt McLane and Tom Sabo (NCLC Schools of Success). Look for a number of presenters REPRESENTING NCLC at conferences in April. Workshops at the National Service-Learning Conference will feature JoAnn Henderson and Paul Baumann (NCLC staff), Steve Hefner and Barbara Clark (NCLC Executive Board) and John Weiss (NCLC Schools of Success) and Jim Williams and Rich Parker (NCLC District Leaders Network). Presenting at the National School Boards Annual Conference will be NCLC staff member Lisa Guilfoile with Lori Gonzalez and Maria Petropulos (NCLC Schools of Success).
Back to top.Other Useful Web sites
The CIVIC EDUCATION PROJECT (CEP) will provide an opportunity for outstanding middle and high school students to participate in weeklong and three-week service-learning courses during the spring and summer. Held this year in Chicago, Baltimore, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., the programs will cover topics such as law and criminal justice, politics and urban development, education policy and school reform, public health and civic engagement. Extensive scholarship support is available. For more information, visit the Web site. Some application deadlines are in early April, so act soon if you’re interested.
http://www.civiceducationproject.com
LEADING NOW urges us to regard young people as active participants in decision-making and leadership in their communities. The Web site offers resources, links to other sites, persuasive arguments for encouraging youth leaders and more.
http://www.leadingnow.org/
The U.S. EPA recently announced its environmental education GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY. The purpose of the grants is to promote environmental stewardship and help develop knowledgeable and responsible students, teachers and citizens. EPA expects to award at least 20 grants nationwide ranging from a minimum of $15,000 to a maximum of $100,000 and will accept applications until May 2, 2011. For more information, visit the Web site.
http://go.usa.gov/4DQ
INTERROBANG is a Web site that links youth in grades 6-12 together into a virtual community to complete "missions." Many of these missions are service-learning projects or could easily be used by teachers as service-learning projects. Take some time to poke around this Web site.
http://playinterrobang.com/
Back to top.International Focus
Full-time classroom teachers of all subjects including librarians, grades 7–12, are now invited to apply for the 2011 Toyota INTERNATIONAL TEACHER Program. This program, fully funded by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., and administered by the Institute of International Education, aims to advance environmental stewardship and global connectedness in U.S. schools and communities. The program to Costa Rica will take place November 19 – December 3, 2011. Please visit their Web site for eligibility requirements, application instructions, FAQs and to apply online. The deadline to apply is May 4, 2011.
http://www.iie.org/toyota
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