Project Citizen in ActionProject Citizen in Action

Civic education program

Promotes competent and responsible participation in state and local government

Engages students in learning how to monitor and influence public policy

Encourages civic participation among students, parents and members of the community

Identify a public policy problem & evaluate alternative solutions

Propose a solution

Develop an action plan for implementing their policy

Display research in a portfolio and documentation binder

It means you and your class will…

alternative policies

the problem

documentation section

our class policy

our action plan

Here’s what a class creates to “showcase” their efforts.

Students identify

public policy problems

in their community by…• discussing them with

each other

• interviewing family members and other adults

• reading newspapers and other print sources

• listening to news reports on radio and TV

Selecting a problem for class study

Problems in our community

1. Drugs 3. Pollution

2. Violence 4.

Students present and discuss the problems they

have identified and then select one problem for

their class project

Students gather informationon the chosen public policyproblem from a variety ofsources

Interviews and surveys Printed sourcesRadio and television Libraries Internet

Scholars and professors Lawyers and judges

Community organizations and interest groupsLegislative offices Administrative offices

Developing a class portfolio

• Group 1 develops an explanation of the problem

• Group 2 evaluates alternative policies

• Group 3 develops a proposed policy consistent with constitutional principles

• Group 4 develops an action plan

Presenting the portfolio

• Public hearing before a

panel of “judges” from

the community

• Presentations by each of

the four groups

• Opening oral presentations(4 minutes)

• Responses to questions from judges

(6 minutes)

Start: 56:26Start: 56:26

 What DISPOSITIONS did they exhibit? (What attitudes and beliefs did they demonstrate?)

 What DISPOSITIONS did they exhibit? (What attitudes and beliefs did they demonstrate?)

What KNOWLDEGE did they need?(What did they need to know?)

What KNOWLDEGE did they need?(What did they need to know?)

What did the students in Missouri and Colombia need to

become engaged citizens?

What did the students in Missouri and Colombia need to

become engaged citizens?

What SKILLS did they employ?(What were they able to do?)

What SKILLS did they employ?(What were they able to do?)

Carousel•In a group, record your ideas on the chart paper in the room.

•When time is called, move to the next chart.

Carousel•In a group, record your ideas on the chart paper in the room.

•When time is called, move to the next chart.

•The need for government •The purposes of government •Constitutional principles •Structure of government •Individual rights (personal, political, economic) •Responsibilities of a citizen •Role of the citizen in a democracy •How the citizen can participate in the political life of the community

•The need for government •The purposes of government •Constitutional principles •Structure of government •Individual rights (personal, political, economic) •Responsibilities of a citizen •Role of the citizen in a democracy •How the citizen can participate in the political life of the community

KnowledgeKnowledge

Critical Thinking:Critical Thinking:

SkillsSkills

Participatory:Participatory:

•Responsibility•Self-discipline & self-governance•Respect for individual dignity & diversity•Civility •Compassion •Tolerance for ambiguity•Respect for the law and willingness to seek changes in unjust laws peacefully and legally•How the citizen can participate in the political life of the community

•Responsibility•Self-discipline & self-governance•Respect for individual dignity & diversity•Civility •Compassion •Tolerance for ambiguity•Respect for the law and willingness to seek changes in unjust laws peacefully and legally•How the citizen can participate in the political life of the community

Dispositions (attitudes)Dispositions (attitudes)

•Gather and assess information •Explain, clarify and prioritize •Identify alternative solutions to problems •Identify and assess consequences •Reflect and evaluate

•Gather and assess information •Explain, clarify and prioritize •Identify alternative solutions to problems •Identify and assess consequences •Reflect and evaluate

•Communicate effectively •Negotiate, compromise, and seek consensus•Manage conflicts peacefully and fairly•Monitor and influence politics and government

•Communicate effectively •Negotiate, compromise, and seek consensus•Manage conflicts peacefully and fairly•Monitor and influence politics and government

Text books emphasize this

Text books emphasize this

DebriefDebrief

Project Citizen text pages vi-3Project Citizen text pages vi-3

Comments? Concerns so far?Comments? Concerns so far?

What bugs me...What bugs me...

1. Imagine things that bug or annoy you in youra. personal life

b. school

c. neighborhood

d. state

e. nation

1. Imagine things that bug or annoy you in youra. personal life

b. school

c. neighborhood

d. state

e. nation

2. Carousela. Rotate and record your ideas on the poster

papers located throughout the room.b. Debrief

2. Carousela. Rotate and record your ideas on the poster

papers located throughout the room.b. Debrief

Identifying Public Policy Problems in Your CommunityIdentifying Public Policy Problems in Your Community

Project Citizen text: Step 1, pages 10-16Project Citizen text: Step 1, pages 10-16

Who should be responsible for solving our community problems?Who should be responsible for solving our community problems?

Discuss with a partner.Discuss with a partner.

Spheres of SocietySpheres of Societyindividuals

familiesprivate businessphilanthropists

individualsfamilies

private businessphilanthropists

service organizationsprivate clubs

churchesunions

trade groups

service organizationsprivate clubs

churchesunions

trade groups

national, state, local, special districts, government agenciesnational, state, local, special districts, government agencies

Distinguishing among spheres of society:Which part of society is involved?

Distinguishing among spheres of society:Which part of society is involved?

1. A local school board changes graduation requirements.2. Susan becomes a member of the Girl Scouts.3. Carmen and her friend go out to dinner and a movie.4. Marco’s family and friends have a picnic on July 4th.5. Sara and her two sisters join a labor union.6. The Sierra Club lobbies state legislators to pass environmental protection laws. 7. The state legislature passes a law limiting the use of cell phones while driving.8. Citizens join a taxpayer’s association in an effort to get government to lower taxes. 9. The federal government awards a contract to a private company to repair sections of

an interstate highway.10. A city council passes a law establishing smoke free zones in public parks.

1. A local school board changes graduation requirements.2. Susan becomes a member of the Girl Scouts.3. Carmen and her friend go out to dinner and a movie.4. Marco’s family and friends have a picnic on July 4th.5. Sara and her two sisters join a labor union.6. The Sierra Club lobbies state legislators to pass environmental protection laws. 7. The state legislature passes a law limiting the use of cell phones while driving.8. Citizens join a taxpayer’s association in an effort to get government to lower taxes. 9. The federal government awards a contract to a private company to repair sections of

an interstate highway.10. A city council passes a law establishing smoke free zones in public parks.

Who should fix the problem?For each problem, decide who should take care of it.

Private sphere? Civil society? Government?

Who should fix the problem?For each problem, decide who should take care of it.

Private sphere? Civil society? Government?

1. Ensuring that children from birth to three years old eat nutritious food and develop healthy hygiene habits.

2. Ensuring that children receive equal educational opportunities.3. Promoting the moral development of young children.4. Caring for the elderly poor people.5. Protecting the borders of the country.6. Maintaining streets in cities and towns.7. Providing medical care for the indigent.8. Protecting people from criminal activity.9. Upholding the moral standards of the community.10. Building highways, bridges, and dams.11. Protecting the country from external attack.12. Promoting economic prosperity.

1. Ensuring that children from birth to three years old eat nutritious food and develop healthy hygiene habits.

2. Ensuring that children receive equal educational opportunities.3. Promoting the moral development of young children.4. Caring for the elderly poor people.5. Protecting the borders of the country.6. Maintaining streets in cities and towns.7. Providing medical care for the indigent.8. Protecting people from criminal activity.9. Upholding the moral standards of the community.10. Building highways, bridges, and dams.11. Protecting the country from external attack.12. Promoting economic prosperity.

Vote with your feet•Show your opinion by moving to the section of the room that contains your answer.•Make your selection quickly.•Move to your answer quickly.•Be prepared to justify your choice to the group.

Vote with your feet•Show your opinion by moving to the section of the room that contains your answer.•Make your selection quickly.•Move to your answer quickly.•Be prepared to justify your choice to the group.

Who solves problems?

Who solves problems?

So, what is “public policy?”So, what is “public policy?”

DefinedPublic policy is the combination of basic decisions, commitments, and actions made by government officials who have authority to act. Policymaking is the act of arriving at a decision regarding the public good or well being, through an agreed upon public policy process, based on established norms and procedures.

DefinedPublic policy is the combination of basic decisions, commitments, and actions made by government officials who have authority to act. Policymaking is the act of arriving at a decision regarding the public good or well being, through an agreed upon public policy process, based on established norms and procedures.

In democracies, a public policy is a concept or set of ideas that guides a course of action or a procedure used in dealing with public issues or problems. Public policies are often embodied in laws, rules, or regulations or agreed upon procedures used by government to fulfill its responsibilities to protect the rights of the people and to promote the general welfare.

In democracies, a public policy is a concept or set of ideas that guides a course of action or a procedure used in dealing with public issues or problems. Public policies are often embodied in laws, rules, or regulations or agreed upon procedures used by government to fulfill its responsibilities to protect the rights of the people and to promote the general welfare.

Found PoemFound PoemWith a partner, pick no more than 10words from the definition on the previous slide and the text below to describe what a “public policy” is.

How could the problem be addressed?

DebriefDebrief

Project Citizen text pages 10-16Project Citizen text pages 10-16

Comments? Concerns so far?Comments? Concerns so far?

Characteristics of a good policy

A rule must be clear and easy to understand.A rule must be clear and easy to understand.

People must be able to do what the rules say.People must be able to do what the rules say.

It must not conflict with another rule.It must not conflict with another rule.

It must be enforceable.It must be enforceable.

There should be a penalty for breaking it.There should be a penalty for breaking it.

It must be posted or explained to people.It must be posted or explained to people.

Finding public policies in the news?Finding public policies in the news?

Title of the article and author  Brief summary of the problem it addresses Public policy issue involved (if any). Government authority with responsibility to handle the problem (if any).

Title of the article and author  Brief summary of the problem it addresses Public policy issue involved (if any). Government authority with responsibility to handle the problem (if any).

With a group, scan through the news to look for stories that deal with an issue relating to public policy. With a group, scan through the news to look for stories that deal with an issue relating to public policy.

Be sure to answer the following:Be sure to answer the following:

Project Citizen portfolioProject Citizen portfolio

Portfolio Walk AroundNotice the four sections:1.Problem2.Alternative Policies3.Our Policy4.Action Plan

Portfolio Walk AroundNotice the four sections:1.Problem2.Alternative Policies3.Our Policy4.Action Plan

HearingHearing

Start: 11:45Start: 11:45

Triggering MechanismsTriggering Mechanisms

Scope

Intensi

ty

Duratio

n

Resourc

es

Scope

Intensi

ty

Duratio

n

Resourc

es

How many people are affectedHow many people are affected

The extent to which an issue bothers youThe extent to which an issue bothers you

How long an issue has been a problem. How long an issue has been a problem.

The financial and psychological costs of a problem as well as the resources which can be used to address it

The financial and psychological costs of a problem as well as the resources which can be used to address it

Developments that place an issue on the public agendaDevelopments that place an issue on the public agendaHelp identify public policy issuesHelp identify public policy issues

How the scale worksHow the scale worksConsider a problem you might want to study

Consider a problem you might want to studyConsider the scope. How many people are affected? Assign a numerical score.

Consider the scope. How many people are affected? Assign a numerical score.Consider the duration. Chronic problems are likely to bother more people than recent topics. Assign a numerical score.

Consider the duration. Chronic problems are likely to bother more people than recent topics. Assign a numerical score. To what extent is this problem psychologically/emotionally bothering you? *Assign a numerical score.

To what extent is this problem psychologically/emotionally bothering you? *Assign a numerical score.

Closing school libraries

*You will want to consider the resources which can be used to address the problem later as you propose a policy.

*You will want to consider the resources which can be used to address the problem later as you propose a policy.

Higher scoring problems could provide a topic for study.

What are some possible Project Citizen topics?

What are some possible Project Citizen topics?

1.Think back on what bugs you. 2.Think about the newspaper activity. 3.Think about topics you need to teach in class?4.Think about standards (national/state as well as grade level).5.Which of those problems might be handled by a public policy? 6.Try to finish this idea: “There ought to be a law that says...”

1.Think back on what bugs you. 2.Think about the newspaper activity. 3.Think about topics you need to teach in class?4.Think about standards (national/state as well as grade level).5.Which of those problems might be handled by a public policy? 6.Try to finish this idea: “There ought to be a law that says...”

1. Elk Grove has no special "thing" to set it apart.2. Lowering the voting age to the driving age.3. Raising the smoking age to the drinking age.4. Backpacks are too heavy. 5. Not enough programs (i.e. extracurricular sports, art, etc.)6. Not enough animal shelters.7. Our school's water fountains don't taste good and are dirty or are

sometimes broken.8. Energy not wasted at school could mean more money back to our school.

1. Elk Grove has no special "thing" to set it apart.2. Lowering the voting age to the driving age.3. Raising the smoking age to the drinking age.4. Backpacks are too heavy. 5. Not enough programs (i.e. extracurricular sports, art, etc.)6. Not enough animal shelters.7. Our school's water fountains don't taste good and are dirty or are

sometimes broken.8. Energy not wasted at school could mean more money back to our school.

Some Project Citizen ideas from 6th graders

Some Project Citizen ideas from 6th graders

“There ought to be a law that says...”“There ought to be a law that says...”

DebriefDebrief

Project Citizen text pages 44-45Project Citizen text pages 44-45

Comments? Concerns so far?Comments? Concerns so far?

Constitutional Opinion FormConstitutional Opinion Form

Project Citizen portfolioProject Citizen portfolio

Graphic OrganizersGraphic Organizers

1.Problem: pg. 29-302.Examining Alternative Policies: pg. 313.Proposing a Public Policy: pg. 324.Developing an Action Plan: pg. 33-34

1.Problem: pg. 29-302.Examining Alternative Policies: pg. 313.Proposing a Public Policy: pg. 324.Developing an Action Plan: pg. 33-34

Want more training? Want more training?

www.civiced.orgwww.civiced.org