What's New in Civic Education and Youth Civic Engagement Work .... (February 2006 Archive Section)

February 28, 2006

• NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER ANNOUNCES $6.4 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE ANNENBERG FOUNDATION
  
  Grant To Support Seven National and Regional Civic Education and Engagement Programs, including a Peter Jennings Institute for Journalists and a Constitutional Convention.
  
  Philadelphia, PA (February 22, 2006) - The National Constitution Center is receiving a landmark five-year, $6.4 million grant from the Annenberg Foundation to support seven programs under the Constitution Center's Annenberg Center for Education and Outreach, further positioning the Center as a national leader in constitutional education and programming, and civic engagement. This groundbreaking grant and the four new and three existing programs being supported by it were announced in a news conference at the Constitution Center.
  
  "The Annenberg Foundation was a major contributor to the National Constitution Center 's capital campaign, and we are thrilled that they have chosen to support the Center's continued growth as a national engine for civics with this extraordinary grant," said President and CEO Richard Stengel.  "Mrs. Annenberg and the Foundation are great believers in the importance of national civic education, and it is through their generosity that we will be able to create these seven civic and public initiatives that will that will help us truly live up to the 'National' in our name." 

  Gail Levin, Executive Director of the Annenberg Foundation, said at the announcement, "With this grant to fund seven important programming initiatives of the National Constitution Center, the Annenberg Foundation is tapping into the very core of Walter and Leonore Annenberg's philanthropic work; this gift is yet another way for them to answer the call of citizenship, to build civic engagement and prepare the next generation of civic leaders, and to extend their generosity to as many people as possible."
  
  The four new programs announced include the following: Peter Jennings Institute for Journalists and the Constitution; A Great Debates series; An annual Constitutional Convention; and National Teacher Institutes. 
  
  Existing programs which will also benefit significantly from the grant include the following: Constitution Day; The Pennsylvania Coalition for Representative Democracy (PennCORD); and Curriculum development for the new National Constitution Center Partnership High School .
  

  For more information, call 215.409.6600 or visit: http://www.constitutioncenter.org/. 
  

  To learn more about the new and existing programs go to: Annenberg Release.

  February 27, 2006

• Reminder: Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics Education (Federal Register: February 6, 2006 [CFDA# 84.215D])
  

  Purpose of Program: This program supports the establishment of Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics for students to develop a broader and deeper understanding of these subject matters (Congressional Academies).
  
  Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: March 8, 2006; Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 7, 2006.
  
  Additional information is available online at: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2006-1/020606b.html

  February 23, 2006

• The Community College National Center for Community Engagement (CCNCCE) invites you to submit a proposal to present at its 15th annual conference, May 24-26, 2006.
  
  The theme for the conference, Enlightenment:  The Evolution of Change, suggests enlightened possibilities for the future of service learning and civic engagement.  Proposals are now being accepted for the general workshop sessions. Conference presentations are 90 minute or 2-hour sessions, which should be designed to be highly interactive.
  
  The deadline for submitting proposals is March 1st, 2006.
  
  For detailed instructions on submitting a proposal go to: http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/other/engagement/2006Conf/CallForProposals.jsp or go to: http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/other/engagement/2006Conf/CallForProposals.jsp

  February 22, 2006

• CIRCLE announces the release of two new products:

  Participation in Sports and Civic Engagement Fact Sheet

  This fact sheet explores the effect that sports participation can have on the civic engagement of young people. The research finds that young people who are involved in sports report higher levels of voting, volunteering and engagement in their community than those who do not participate.
  
  In particular, the data show that young people who participated in sports activities during their high school years were more likely than non-sports participants to have:
  
  - Volunteered (32 percent vs. 21 percent),
  - Registered to Vote (58 percent vs. 40 percent),
  - Voted (44 percent vs. 33 percent in 2000), and
  - Followed News Closely (41 percent vs. 26 percent)
  
  CIRCLE Working Paper: "Sports, Youth and Character: A Critical Survey" by Robert Fullinwider

  This working paper examines the effects of participation on youth from age 4 to 18. While Fullinwider finds conflicting analyses and a dearth of reliable, data-driven research on the role sports play in character development, studies do point to some links between sports and positive outcomes like higher levels of college attendance, fewer drop-outs, and more parental involvement.
  
  Download the press release at: http://www.civicyouth.org/PopUps/PR_06_Sports_Civic_FINAL.pdf .

  February 21, 2006

• Students Flex Rights to Understand Responsibility Project Stresses Civics Through Petitions, Voting --- By Valerie Strauss, Washington Post, February 21, 2006

  "Students at Fairview Elementary School in Modesto, Calif., thought the ravioli served at lunch tasted so yucky that they circulated petitions to get it off the menu -- and won. Lesson learned: Kids sometimes do get to pick what they eat.

  At Nursery Road Elementary School in Columbia, S.C., students asked for a longer recess. But Principal Mary Kennerly recalled that when she explained that the school day would have to be extended to meet state mandates, "the kids said, 'Never mind.' "Lesson learned: Things that look simple aren't always so, and with rights come responsibilities.

  A small but growing number of schools has begun to inculcate students in the fundamentals of democratic freedom by teaching and practicing the principles of the First Amendment.

  Administrators and students say such education is imperative amid concern about a lack of adequate civic education in many U.S. schools and at a time when the publication of newspaper cartoons depicting the Islamic prophet Muhammad has sparked riots abroad and a debate over free speech.

  "We are trying to create real leadership skills these kids can carry with them into middle and high school and beyond," said Principal Rob Williams of Fairview , which is participating in the First Amendment Schools project of the Arlington-based First Amendment Center , a nationwide initiative to transform how schools teach civic education. "We are trying to think differently and create a school with a public purpose and a civic mission," Williams said. "There's more to school than just preparing kids for tests...."

  February 17, 2006

• Presidents' Day Resources

  - In celebration of Presidents Day, the U.S. Department of Education announces free Presidents' Day learning resources. Learn about the job of a president, the balances of power with the Supreme Court and Congress, and ways presidents have communicated with the public. See letters, diaries, and other papers from the lives of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. For more go to: http://www.ed.gov/free/

  February 16, 2006

• Service-Learning: Intercommunity & Interdisciplinary Explorations (University of Indianapolis Press)
  
  - Understanding the possibilities of service-learning is not difficult, but mastering the art of teaching it well, and understanding its nuances and tensions, can take much longer. This volume, which explores the multiple facets of service-learning, can help. Edited by Mac Bellner and John Pomery. This book is a project of the Indiana Campus Compact Faculty Fellows program, and includes several chapters written by former Faculty Fellows.
  
  For more information: http://www.indianacampuscompact.org. To order: http://www.uindy.edu/universitypress/orderform.pdf

  February 15, 2006

• The Dirksen Congressional Center announces Congress in the Classroom a national, award- winning education program now in its 14th year. The workshop is dedicated to the exchange of ideas and information on teaching about Congress. Congress in the Classroom is designed for high school or middle school teachers who teach U.S. history, government, civics, political science, or social studies. Forty teachers from throughout the country will be selected in 2006 to take part in the program.

  You will gain experience with The Center's educational Web site, CongressLink -- www.congresslink.org -- which features online access to lesson plans, student activities, historical materials, related Web sites, and subject matter experts. Throughout the program you will work with national experts as well as colleagues from across the nation. This combination of firsthand knowledge and peer-to- peer interaction will give you new ideas, materials, and a professionally enriching experience.

  In sum, the workshop consists of two types of sessions: those that focus on recent research and scholarship about Congress (and don't always have an immediate application in the classroom) and those geared to specific ways to teach students about Congress.

  The 2006 program will feature a broad overview of Congress with special attention to the mid-year elections of 2006. More information about the content is available at: http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm

  February 13, 2006

• Service-Learning: Intercommunity & Interdisciplinary Explorations 2005, University of Indianapolis Press)
  
  - Understanding the possibilities of service-learning is not difficult, but mastering the art of teaching it well, and understanding its nuances and tensions, can take much longer. This volume, which explores the multiple facets of service-learning, can help. Edited by Mac Bellner and John Pomery. This book is a project of the Indiana Campus Compact Faculty Fellows program, and includes several chapters written by former Faculty Fellows.
  
  For more information: http://www.indianacampuscompact.org/LinkClick.aspx . To order: http://www.uindy.edu/universitypress/orderform.pdf

  February 10, 2006

• The Public Education Network online newsletter announces “Achievement, Citizenship and Diversity in American Education”  
  
  - A new report from the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education at New York University seeks to begin a new conversation about quality and diversity in our nation's public schools. The fact that so many public schools in the United States are segregated by race, ethnicity and income stands in sharp contrast to the integration of the American workplace, our armed forces and the many civic and religious communities that make up our society. This is a vexing problem that we cannot ignore. This paper suggests that America in 2005 is not the America of 1954 and that many of the appropriate actions taken to integrate our schools at that time may not be useful now. In 1954, our schools alone were asked to carry the full burden of integration. In 2005, any effort to reach across racial boundaries in school and out of school must be based on a new school-and-community compact. Achieving diversity in our public schools must not be pursued at the expense of providing high-quality teaching and learning opportunities for all of our children, including and especially those who are of low income and racially isolated, whether they are white, black, Latino or any other race or ethnic background. Diversity is a parallel concern to raising academic achievement-- giving our young people the skills they need to get ahead in a global economy and teaching them the basic values that are at the foundation of American citizenship. Ultimately, the United States can only become stronger and better able to meet the challenges of the 21st Century if we continue to invest in quality public schools and recognize that our diversity is a great national strength. Giving our children the opportunity to learn together, regardless of racial, ethnic or social background, helps us to become a more unified and democratic society. For more go to: http://education.nyu.edu/metrocenter/brownplus/reports.pdf i

  February 9, 2006

• Citizens for Global Solutions, is holding a contest for students, budding artists, multi-media designers, and activists who are interested in making some cool flash videos. They are looking for short flash movies that can inspire, amuse and activate people out there who believe a better world is possible. The goal of the contest is to engage youth in an innovative way, allowing them to use their own media and voice to comment on today's complex international concerns. Entrants are asked to use Flash and Macromedia Shockwave technology to create a short film to address America 's role in the world.  Participants can work alone, in a team, or as part of a classroom project.

  Prizes of $2,000, $1,000 and $500 will be awarded for first, second and third place, respectively. Deadline is April 1, 2006.

  For more information go to: 2006 Flash Movie Contest

  Citizens for Global Solutions is a non-partisan, membership organization that envisions a future in which nations work together to abolish war, protect our rights and freedoms, and solve the problems facing humanity that no nation can solve alone.

  February 8, 2006

• The following articles have been added to Pew Charitable Trust's “Supporting Civic Life” website:

  2/03/2006 - The Importance of Place (Trust magazine article): Article describes background and history of Barnes Foundation, its possible demise, and its re-location.
  http://www.pewtrusts.org/ideas/ideas_item.cfm?content_item_id=3201&content_type_id=17&issue_name=Supporting%20arts%20and%20culture&issue=15&page=17&WT.mc_id=02/06/2006
  
  02/03/2006 - "Philly's Got Ben-ergy!" (Trust magazine briefing): Briefing on Ben Franklin celebrations.
  http://www.pewtrusts.org/ideas/ideas_item.cfm?content_item_id=3207&content_type_id=17&issue_name=Supporting%20arts%20and%20culture&issue=15&page=17&WT.mc_id=02/06/2006

  February 7, 2006

• The AEI-Brookings Institution's Election Reform Project aims to synthesize election reform research, link the research and policy communities, track and assist the implementation of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and encourage improvement in HAVA and in election conduct and administration. A few of the features include:

  •  Launch of the AEI-Brookings Election Reform Project on Wednesday, February 8, 2006. The event will feature a keynote address from Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill) and two expert panels that will examine the past and future of election reform.

  •  Voting Integrity. Voter ID Debate: Should Voters Be Required to Present Photo IDs at the Polling Place ?

  •  Report: Building Confidence in U.S. Elections; Report of the Commission on Federal Election Reform

  •  Report: Response to the Report of the 2005 Commission on Federal Election Reform; Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law and Spencer Overton

  •  Voting Access. Voting rights for felons?

  February 6, 2006

• The Public Education Network's online newslettter announces the following:

  - "Unsung Heroes Awards Program"
  The ING Unsung Heroes awards program recognizes innovative and progressive thinking in education through monetary awards. Maximum Award: $25,000 to Grand Prize Winner. Eligibility: full-time educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, or classified staff members with effective projects that improve student learning at an accredited K-12 public or private school. Deadline: May 1, 2006. http://www.ing.com/us/aboutING/communityconnections/ineducation/unsungheroes/001137.html

  -"J8 Global Citizen Programme"
  The J8 Global Citizen Programme gives winners of its competition the opportunity to travel to Russia in July 2006 to join young people from all the other G8 countries at J8 St Petersburg 2006. Maximum Award: an all-expenses-paid, 3-day Summit in July 2006, plus various prizes. Eligibility: groups of 6-8 students aged 13-16.Deadline: March 31, 2006. http://www.j82006.com

  February 2, 2006

• Park University 's International Center for Civic Engagement has published its
  first paper, written by Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann, professor emeritus of political
  science and public administration at Park University. In "Toward a Theory of
  Civic Engagement," Dr. Hauptmann provides a historical context and identifies
  seven elements required for any civic engagement activity.
  
  A native of Poland, Dr. Hauptmann was involved in the resistance to the Nazi
  invasion of Poland, and during the Warsaw invasion of 1944, he served as one
  of the "sewer rats." After having served time as a prisoner of war, he
  completed his Ph.D. at the University of Innsbruck ( Austria ) when the war
  ended and immigrated to the United States, where he pursued post-doctoral
  studies at Northwestern University for one year. He then joined the Park
  faculty in 1951 and remained for more than fifty years at the institution
  which he loved. He served as the founding dean of its Graduate School of Public Affairs, which was renamed the Hauptmann School for Public Affairs upon his retirement.
  
  Hauptmann will discuss his paper at a special reception for Park students and
  alumni during the 2006 American Society for Public Administration National Conference in Denver on April 3.
  
  Access the paper online at http://www.park.edu/icce/files/civic200511.pdf .
  
  For more information on The International Center for Civic Engagement go to: http://www.park.edu/icce .

  February 1, 2006

• The Humanity and Social Sciences online newsletter announces the following:

  - Constructing Citizenship from Beyond the Nation's Borders is seeking papers for a panel for 2007 the AHA Annual Meeting. If you are interested in participating in a panel that explores how different refugee and exile groups construct "nationhood", “community" and/or "home" from beyond their nations of origin. Comparative focus on Latin America preferred, but other regions may be considered as well. For more information contact: todd@wisc.edu or go to  http://www.h-net.org/announce/show.cgi?ID=149405