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REMINDER: Dialogues for Democracy will be held at 7:00 PM Thursday June 9th in the high school cafeteria. You are required to be there. = =

Democracy and Active Citizenship North Kingstown High School Social Studies Department

2009-2010 Dr. Walsh Rm. 323 jay_walsh@nksd.net

The purpose of this class is to provide opportunities for us to explore and practice democracy and active citizenship. Included in this are three goals; 1) understanding public and private political structures and processes; 2) practicing democratic participation; and, 3) critically examining ideas and values espoused by politicians, the mass media, and yourselves. The basic aspects of how democracy functions in the United States and their relationships to major social structures (class, gender, race, corporate etc) are equally important to understand. Therefore, including learning such things as how a bill becomes a law, we will also learn to identify the power dynamics of social and institutional politics. Democracy depends on the participation of community members. Such participation can take many forms including but not limited to voting, writing to elected officials, working on campaigns, writing to the local newspapers, engaging in town meetings, organizing action groups, or protesting. We will learn multiple ways to participate as active and engaged democratic citizens. The activities in which we choose to participate, and the ways in which we participate in those activities, are often guided by how we think about political issues. Our thoughts on political issues can be shaped by personal experiences, schooling, familial relationships, political rhetoric, the mass media, or popular culture. We will learn how to critically examine how our ideas, and the ideas of others, inform our actions and understandings of issues. This should be an exciting class and I am looking forward to experiencing it with you.
 * Introduction:**

What is democracy? How does democracy work? How have others used democracy to impact society? How can we participate in a democratic society?
 * Essential Questions:**

1. __This I Believe__ – a written assignment which asks you to state your personal philosophy concerning the meaning of democracy. 2. __Is democracy doing its job?__ – An analysis of how well democracy currently functions. 3. __How have others succeeded?__ - Analysis and presentation of an individual’s or group’s use of democracy. 4. __Practicing Democracy__ – Completing a variety of in class activities which enable you to practice democratic skills. 5. __Doing Democracy!__ – Working alone, or in collaboration with a few classmates, you will identify an issue which needs to be addressed and then use the concepts and skills learned in this class to engage in the community as a democratic citizen.
 * Required Assignments:**

The grading policy for this course is intended to be a practice in freedom which requires some explanation. At its best democracy is (more than the often thought about institutional procedures of voting, advocating for issues or creating, enforcing, and judging laws) a way of living where each person should refer her/his own action to that of others, and to consider the action of others to give point and direction to his/her own. A //living democracy// requires two basic capacities self-determination (the exercising and advocacy of one’s own rights) and self-regulation (the practice of one’s responsibilities toward self and others). The grading policy will enable students the opportunity to practice self-determination and self-regulation.
 * Grading Policy**

The student’s grades for this course will be self-determined. At the beginning of the course the students will asked to write well developed responses for the following questions:
 * What exactly do I want to learn in this class?
 * For what reasons? What are the purposes of that learning?
 * In what ways will I learn it?
 * In what ways will I contribute to the learning of other participants in the class?
 * In what ways will I determine my grade in this course?

Four times during the course (at the middle and end of each quarter) the students will orally present a written report which answers the following questions:
 * What have I done in the course?
 * What have I learned in it?
 * In what ways have I contributed to the learning of others?
 * In what ways do I intend to apply what I have learned?
 * What grade do I deserve?
 * What criteria and methods did I use to determine the grade?
 * If I could do this again what would I do differently?

Regular assignments, readings, and activities will be planned daily. As the teacher, I will read, review, and respond to every assignment completed by the students. Rather than indicating a grade on the completed assignment I will offer comments, critiques, encouragement, and advice about your work. The assignments, rather than being an end point of learning, will become a learning tool. The types of assignments will include but may not be limited to weekly readings, formal and informal writing, journals, “practicing democracy” activities, and class participation.

Some of you may be thinking that this is going to be easy; but think twice. What I am proposing here is not an easy way to get an ‘A,’ but an alternative way to learn through different methods and with different purposes – intrinsic ones. You are all participants in a democracy. Think about why you chose this course. Think about what you want to learn. Think about how you will feel at the end of the course having accomplished something that deserves an ‘A.’ Think about what a pity it would be to arrive at the end of the course having accomplished or learned little yet giving yourself a grade you don’t deserve. This is a different type of class; this is your chance to learn in freedom, to self-regulate, to self-determine. Use this opportunity wisely and responsibly.