The McCormick Foundation is partnering with Eastern Illinois University to sponsor a day-long program for high school students and their teachers. Your school is invited to send one or more teachers/administrators and up to fifteen students to engage in discussion of our essential question for the day: “how can we create safe schools?” The day will begin with a morning panel of experts providing multiple viewpoints and perspectives on this question, followed by a working lunch where students will be guided through small group discussion and in creation of plans for informed action. The day will close with an afternoon session in which students are invited to present their plans and ideas to a selection of community leaders.
By participating in our forum, students will be walked through the stages of informed action (question, investigate, evaluate, action) that are part of the new Civics mandate and Illinois Learning Standards and to think about themselves as participants in our democracy and given some tools to make their voices heard. Additionally, they will have the chance to engage with their peers from other high schools. Lunch will be provided to all attendees, and teachers/schools will be given $50 to go towards the cost of a substitute teacher or transportation.
Registration will close March 1, but slots will fill up fast!
A full program will be sent out and posted at www.eiu.edu/civics in early February Questions? Contact Bonnie Laughlin-Schultz, Social Science Teaching Coordinator, at blaughlinschul@eiu.edu.