Dear Bobbi,
Civitas Students Discuss Civil Liberties
Dress codes; school newspapers; searching lockers; activities by students when they are away from schools -- these are all issues that were discussed by Civitas students in the Active Citizenship conference in February. Last Saturday, students met with Tony Rothert, Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties of Eastern Missouri as well as ACLU-EM board member Nikki Doughty.
Tony and Nikki did an outstanding job of describing the complexities of the issues. At first glance, some issues may seem like "slam dunks." But there is always more than one side to an issue. Since schools often limit student rights for fear of damaging the reputations, the arguments often become frivolous and outcomes can be absurd. This does not mean that people don't operate in good faith; it is only that the issues can be baffling and compromise difficult to reach.
As part of the Civitas Active Citizenship project, we will continue to focus on student rights.
Click here for more photos.
|
|
Students To AttendFormer Gov. Holden Forum
This evening, April 15, former Missouri Governor Bob Holden's Public Policy Forum is sponsoring a program on ideas for education reform. The governor has made a special effort to encourage students involved in Civitas programs to attend.
The forum will feature former West Virginia Governor Bob Wise who has just published a new book on education reform, Raising the Grade: How High School Reform Can Save Our Youth and Our Nation. The presentation and subsequent discussion is tonight, Tuesday, April 15, at the recently renovated Old Post Office in downtown St. Louis (815 Olive Street; 63101) [map]. It is free of charge. Following the forum, we will take interested students to the Cardinals game against the Milwaukee Brewers. As a token of our appreciation for you attending the forum, we will cover the ticket costs for every Civitas attendee who wants to go to the game.
Again, this is a unique opportunity for students to meet with decision leaders. If you have questions, please contact Arthur at Civitas or call Abigail Boudreaux at (314) 246-8792 or visit the Holden Forum website at http://www.webster.edu/holdenppf/.
|
|
Middle School Model U.N. Begins in 9 Days
The first of seven Middle School Model U.N. sessions begins a week from this Thursday on April 24. Students have been working all school year, studying the United Nations, economic, social, and human rights issues, and writing proposed solutions to global issues in the form of resolutions.
On Thursday, April 24, students from Hixson Middle School, Lift for Life Academy, Queen of All Saints, St. Mary Magdalen, and St. Roch's School will meet at the Creve Coeur Government Center, 300 No. New Ballas Road [63141] (map) from 9:00 AM - Noon. They will consider resolutions on global warming, human trafficking, HIV/AIDS in Ghana, clean drinking water, women's rights, and infant mortality.
The next session will be on Wednesday, April 30 and will include students from Hixson Middle, Maplewood-Richmond Heights Middle, Orchard Farms Middle, and St. Gabriel's, also from 9:00 AM - Noon at the Creve Coeur Government Center.
Resolutions are past due for the April 10 session and are due tomorrow (April 16) for the April 30 session. Teachers who have questions should contact Civitas Middle School Coordinator Lisa Granich-Kovarik at (314) 865-4707.
|
|
Global Gateway Project on HIV/AIDS
You probably are knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS in the United States and have heard about recent initiatives by the United States and other "developed" countries to address the problems of HIV/AIDS in Africa. However, you may not know much about the prevalence of the diseases in the Caribbean. Once again, the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting has researched and assembled a host of materials on a topic that has been somewhat "under the radar."
Journalist Antigone Barton has been contracted by the Pulitzer Center cover this important story and report to a variety of audiences. Along with videographer Steve Sapienza, she has produced a wealth of information in a variety of formats, all available at the Pulitzer Center web site by clicking here.
Ms. Barton will be coming to St. Louis April 24-26 along with Pulitzer Center director Jon Sawyer and associate director Nathalie Applewhite. On Thursday morning, they will be going to Parkway West High School; that afternoon they will go to Soldan International Studies High School. Students from Lift for Life Academy will also attend that session.
Friday morning, April 25, the journalists will be at St. Joseph's Academy. That afternoon they will cross the Mississippi for a session with a large contingent of students from Collinsville High School.
On Saturday morning, April 26, from 9:00 AM - Noon, Nathalie will join Parkway School District Social Studies Coordinator Liz Morrison in leading a workshop for teaches interested in the Global Gateway program. KETC Channel 9 has once again graciously offered its facilities for the workshop at 3655 Olive Blvd. [63108] (map).
This should once again be another outstanding Global Gateway project. If you have questions, contact Arthur at arthur@civitas-stl.com or call (314) 367-6480.
|
|
Upcoming Civitas Events
(Actual events in bold -- always subject to change when change occurs!) Black: High School Blue: Middle School | Date | Time | Place | Activities | Tues.,
04/15 | 5:30 PM -
7:00 PM | Old Post Office
(815 Olive; 63101) | Presentation on Improving Schools by former WV Gov. Bob Wise. Also, Cardinals vs. Brewers for those interested. | Thurs.,
04/24 | 9:00 AM -
12:00 PM | Creve Coeur Gov't Center | Middle School Model U.N. Session #1 | Thurs.,
04/24 | Day & Evening | Various | Global Gateway Program on HIV/AIDS in Caribbean | Fri.,
04/25 | Morning & Afternoon | Various | Global Gateway Program on HIV/AIDS in Caribbean | Sat.,
04/26 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | KETC Channel 9
3655 Olive; 63108
| Teacher workshop for Global Gateway program with Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting | Sat.,
04/26 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Crossroads | High School Discussion Session | Wed.,
04/30 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Creve Coeur Gov't Center | Middle School Model U.N. Session #2 | Thurs.,
05/01 | 9:00 AM -
12:00 PM | Creve Coeur Gov't Center | Middle School Model U.N. Session #3 | Fri.,
05/02 | 9:00 AM -
12:00 PM | Creve Coeur Gov't Center | Middle School Model U.N. Session #4 | Wed.,
05/07 | 9:00 AM -
12:00 PM | Creve Coeur Gov't Center | Middle School Model U.N. Session #5 | Thurs.,
05/08 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Brentwood Community Center | Middle School Model U.N. Session #6 | Fri.,
05/09 | 9:00 AM -
12:00 PM | Creve Coeur Gov't Center | Middle School Model U.N. Session #7 | Sat.,
05/10 | 1:00 PM - 4:00PM | T.B.A. | Civitas Annual Spring Picnic | Mon.
06/09 -
Fri.,
June 06/13
| 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Varies | Civitas Urban Go-Team |
|
|
Arthur H. Lieber 314-367-6480 |
|
|
Civitas Associates 10845 Olive Blvd.
Suite #155
Saint Louis, Missouri 63141-7760 Phone: (314) 367-6480
Fax: (314) 367-7742 Tuesday, April 15, 2008
|
|
|
