Saturday, March 9, 2013

3/11: One Voice...The Power of Exercising Your Freedom of Speech

One Student's Opinion's On School Budget Cuts

CLICK ON THE LINK ABOVE TO READ THE LETTER FROM A STUDENT (A SENIOR) IN TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL CUTS IN HER TOWN'S SCHOOL BUDGET.


Last week, your assignment was to write a letter to your Elected Officials concerning our national financial crisis and in particular, the impact of the Sequestration. Some of you worked hard on it, some put a mediocre effort into it, and some (despite promptings) elected not to complete the assignment. (How indicative of this varied student effort is a reflection of the types of citizens you will become in the future?) The quote above speaks to our responsibility as citizens to work to defend the blessings of our freedoms. Not for us to merely to enjoy them, but to be informed and when necessary defend them through our freedom of speech. 

Classroom Assignment: 
1. Let's read the letter as an entire class aloud. Student's take notes on what you felt were important points of the letter. 
2. Break up into small groups, and review your notes, her letter,  and discuss how effective or ineffective you felt this letter will be if you were an Elected Official or on the Board of Education. 
3. Have a group note-taker to capture the key points of your group discussion. Turn the group notes in at the end of class. 
4. Your focus: Questions I want you to address in your groups:

  1. How will you go about cutting the budget if you have to? 
  2. What are some of your considerations in determining what to cut and what not to cut? 
  3. As Elected Officials, how can you raise money to maintain or increase the budget?


How Long Will Your Freedom Of Speech Remain a Freedom, 
If You Do Not Exercise That Freedom...?

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