Schools Respond to Student Protests
Many of the students who skipped school over the last two weeks in protest of new immigration legislation are back in class now, but the debate continues over this subject, and schools' responses to the protests.
Educators across the U.S. were surprised by the size and duration of the protests and have struggled to respond without creating additional disruptions to learning. Some schools granted students community service credits for attending the April 10 march and rally in Washington, D.C., but most responded by reminding parents and students of their attendance policies, and the consequences of continued truancy.
In their conversations with students and their communities, many educators have tried to include lessons about civic responsibility, legal concerns, and related issues.
These are important lessons, because it is not enough that students are just academically proficient--they must also be civically engaged, ready for the world beyond school, and well versed in the significance of issues such as free speech. Through ASCD's work to promote the needs of the whole child and participation in the First Amendment Schools program, we seek to support educators who work toward these goals.
What do you think? This ASCD poll offers you a chance to make your voice heard schools' responses to these protests.
We also invite you to tell us and your peers what you think the role of educators and schools is in promoting student civic engagement.
Learn More
The ASCD Annual Conference offered sessions related to these topics. Here are a few that caught our eye that will be available soon, in case you missed them at conference:
A Call to Action: Transforming High School for All Youths, Joseph DiMartino and Peggy MuellerFacing the Future: Welcoming Immigrant Students, Lynn McBrien
Their Voices Matter: Keys to High School Student Engagement, Steven GrossThe School as a Model of Democracy and Learning, Deborah Meier
What Leaders Need to Know About School Law, Bill Bosher
Of course students shouldn't be allowed to leave school to do a protest march; where then would be the valor?? The whole point of a protest during the workday is to show the passion of the purpose; if we're ALLOWED to go to the march, then what's the big deal?? Half the 'rush', the 'moment in history', of committing civil disobedience is gone if it's not disobedient at all!!
Shel
Posted by: Shel | April 14, 2006 at 04:04 PM
If students are given class credit when they miss school to protest illegal immigration legislation, will they also recieve credit for protesting pro or con abortion rights, or for or against the iraq war?
Civil disobedience is civil disobedience whether the authorities in charge agree or dissagree. Or do the authorities get to pick and choose for what civil dissobedience the school will give credit? I do not think that it is the school's responsibility to reinforce political (or religious) opinions. I think that it is an abuse of authority.
Posted by: SCS | April 15, 2006 at 10:23 PM
I can't imagine there are too many other experiences that would be more educational than to be involved in this type of civic engagement. School district administrations release students to watch football games, go to plays, fly kites, and numerous other activities that have questionable educational relevance. Frankly, I am surprised at the results of this survey.
Posted by: Charlie Roberts | April 17, 2006 at 09:44 AM
Ceasar Chavez was very anti- illegal immigration. He believed in unions and unions for the most part are anti-illegal immigration because they don't want their jobs taken from them. I think these students need to stay in school and learn the truth. It they are educated on the subject, they would understand why the U.S. want them to become legal.
Posted by: CD Reese | April 18, 2006 at 08:35 PM
Civics is a process in which students (of any age) learn to express themselves in a 'civic' manner. When there are injustices in the system, and when the system continues to be biased against some minorities, those students and individuals have the right to protest peacefully. Be it inmigration laws that are not just and equal, or a war that was taken out of emotions, with misguided information to the public and with the wrong motives. If the public, or students cannot protest, then the country is losing its 'democracy and freedom' very quick! Our job as teachers is to teach to think and take decisions in accordance with traditions that for the most part have made what the US is today. If we do not mantain this type of freedom of speech and opinion, then we will lose what we have had! We are in a dangerous situation, but so many people are blinded by misguided church institutions, and by overly ambitious government individuals, that some have forgotten what true REPRESENTATION of the PEOPLE is all about. Lincoln said it well: "Your can fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people, all of the time"!
Posted by: C. Walker | May 03, 2006 at 11:49 PM
Basically, there's nothing wrong with students performing such community service. The problem is that being young and less experienced, students only too quickly misunderstand and misinterpret, if not misrepresent, areas of priority in life. In the present case of expressing solidarity with 'ill-fated' immigrants, they could lose sight of the fact that their foremost priority now is to continue their school work, grow to become more competent and assertive in order to help promote all forms of humane treatment in America and in the world. School administrators and teachers should provide a feasible structure of activism, manifested by the adherence to time and the sustenance of focus on school work.
Posted by: Kili M.Nagbe | May 04, 2006 at 01:07 AM
Seems like it should be the parent’s decision on whether their child misses school or not. They can decide if it is important enough to miss classes to attend big brother George’s college graduation, or the national rodeo finals, or to accompany them to house hunt in a new city, or to participate in a protest. The school’s obligation is to set a limit on how many times parents can make such a decision and the consequences of exceeding that number. Period. End of debate.
Posted by: Bob Arp | May 04, 2006 at 03:05 PM