Story Published:
May 12, 2010 at 2:56 PM CDT
Story Updated:
May 12, 2010 at 8:48 PM CDT
This past weekend, Algood Middle School Students went to Tennessee State University in Nashville to compete in a Statewide competition for “Project Citizen”.
92 projects were entered from 13 schools.
Pitted against, 12 other schools from around the state, Algood Middle had 4 of the 20 projects judged superior in this event. These 20 projects will be judged again and one (1) project will be selected from the state of Tennessee to be sent to the National competition.
The date of this event has not been determined.
The competition involves a program called, "Project Citizen."
"Project Citizen" is a curricular program for middle, secondary, and post-secondary students, youth organizations, and adult groups that promotes competent and responsible participation in local and state government. The program helps participants learn how to monitor and influence public policy.
Groups of students identify a problem area which they feel should be addressed with a new or revised public policy. They must research the problem, decide from where the public policy should come, and then develop an action plan to influence the revision or creation of the policy.
For example, one group identified our “no chewing gum” policy at the school. They conducted research to find out how students, parents, and faculty members felt about chewing gum in school. They identified the policy as a school rule (not a school board policy or state law) and therefore created an action plan to lobby the faculty and administration at the school level to allow gum in classrooms.
As Algood Middle Principal, I (Tim Martin) would like to express appreciation, not only to the students and faculty members who worked so hard on these projects, but also to the parents who supported their students.
From these projects all of our students learn valuable research, presentation, and teamwork skills as well as having a chance to get involved in various school and community issues that are important to them as individuals.
There are two pictures--one in front of the "no smoking" sign shows the 5th grade group practicing their "Come to school late to graduate" before their presentation.
The other photo shows the sixth grade group doing their "Project Playground" presentation.
