Senior+Privileges

1) ****Introduction to the problem** a) C<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; msoansilanguage: EN-US; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msobidilanguage: AR-SA; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msofareastlanguage: EN-US; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin;">urrently in school, you are not taught self management. Self management is vital for any future. By having the senior privilege to leave during lunch, students will be taught how to manage their time, be dependable, and at the same time be rewarded for their actions. As apart of the student body, we believe students would react well with this privlege and so would the local economy. a) Our group first decided to research how students/professionals at the school would react to the issue. We made a survey and emailed all junior advisory teachers, and asked them to email us back if they wanted their students to participate. We also spoke wit the intern principal, who was happy to see students acting as leaders in their community. He told us the cons and pros which we appreciated. Lastly, we spoke to a guidance counsler. This was difficult because she didn't like the idea at all. We tried to stay positive after nearly getting shut down by everyone. Our group kept chugging and completed the ways of acting and our backboard. We hope that at the event on Jan. 13 that our audience will see our view too. b) First, when speaking to professionals, we would first say the character benefits of the privilege and school lacks teaching students self management in a postive way. We would not first discuss the privilege. Also, with sending out the emails for students to take a survey, we would have members of the group pass out the sheets to adviosries. There would be no middle man deciding for the students. Our ways of acting Newsletter and example of an ID card to leave were appropriate and interesting and benefitted our project. a) Unfortunately, our group did not pursue further to execute recieving senior privileges, but we did learn a lot. We learned how to change something we are passionate about by the instructions employed by Mr. Walsh. We really appreciate that he cares about our role in our community. b) We could go to the school comittee to see how we can change our privelges and pass out the surveys, but I am not sure if our group is passionate enough about this subject still. a) Each member of the group must submit a reflection which includes their thoughts about: i) I learned the structure of democracy in this class. Some groups focused on the school structure, some government and some others town comittees. I learned how each are connected and how to successfully stand up for something that I truly believe in no matter what others think. Again, I believe this class is vital for any citizen all around the world. ii) Surprisingly, I learned how hard working I am. I was definately not expecting to learn this about myself. I also learned to be prepared and don't give up even when you are really frustrated. iii) I learned how to cooperate with others and be a leader in a group. a) Each portfolio must include a minimum of one artifact from each of the following sub sections. You should include all artifacts that were actually created and you may also add ones which you did not use but could have used. i) __Public Education__ (1) Leaflets, Flyers, Posters, see board (*don't know how to upload) (2) Newsletters see board* (3) Reports (4) Public Hearings, Candidates nights January 13 Democracy Night (5) Film or video screenings (6) Internet, blogs, Pod casts (7) Survey-- ii) __Direct Action__ (1) Boycotting  The students would boycott student lunches. Instead students would bring their own lunches. This would cause the cafeteria to lose money and be in the red zone. The school would be forced to give the student body senior privileges because of the debt the boycott would cause. The whole school would rejoice. The students could also boycott student assemblies. This would show their feeling of being treated with lack of respect, and the adults would be treated the same way. Under the golden rule, treat others as you want to be treated. The adults would see their sensitivity, and the student body would receive senior privileges.
 * [[file:Portfolio.docx]]
 * 2) ****Strategies employed**
 * 3) ****Outcomes of the project**
 * 4) ****Reflections on the Project**
 * 5) ****Appendix: Ways of Acting**

(2) Picketing The students would leave during their lunch and go outs to the parking lot to picket. Students would create signs like the one scene on the backboard, and chant senior privileges until the end of their lunch then a new group of riled up students would come outside to show their support for the topic. This would be a distraction for students in their class, and eventually the school would have to address the problem. (3) Demonstrations and Protests (4) Strikes Striking in our case would be very radical, but students could ban going to school. Their reason would be because they feel that they don’t receive equal respect from the staff, when they are young adults. Administrators would see their frustration and point of view, and after contemplating with the student leaders the right decision would be made. There would be senior privileges for the students.

(5) Nonviolent Civil Disobedience iii) __Citizen Lobbying__ (1) Writing a bill & finding a sponsor Starting with the class of 2011, seniors at North Kingstown High School under certain circumstances will be permitted with more senior privileges. Each student will have to have a GPA of 2.7, have no more than 3 administrative detentions and disciplinary record is clear to be able to leave during lunch. If the student qualifies then he/she will receive student identification with a barcode that will be scanned for reentry into the building, or each student will have student identification with a symbol on it. If a student is late returning to school 3 times, or if they do not return once, then their privilege will be removed. This will teach the students self management for their future because they will have to manage their time, grades, and the way they act in school. (2) Testifying at committee hearings The students in our group would first explain to the principal or town council members that having the senior privilege to leave during lunch teaches students self management in order to be successful later in their lives. Under self management you learn to be responsible, timely, thoughtful, and reliable and so on. We will convince that this senior privilege is not just for our own benefit during our senior year, but for school to teach students important qualities that will make your life successful. Further in the presentation, we would discuss the requirements to be able to leave during lunch including parent consent form, 2.7 or higher GPA of 2.7 and a clean disciplinary record. Additionally, how the cards would work for students to reenter the building. Hopefully, the school committee members would see how prepared we are and be convinced that this new senior privilege would be beneficial for students for their future. That is what school is all about, preparing children for a positive future, right? (During Public comment of School Committee meeting)

(3) Persuading Legislators For our topic which is changing senior privileges, our group would need to visit the school committee and principals to propose/execute the idea. We would be professional by our stature (how we carry ourselves), way we dress and finally and most importantly to not let their negative comments bother us during the presentation. The presentation would be similar to the testifying at committee meetings which is above.

iv) __The Media__ (1) Letters to the Editor Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, As apart of the student body, I can say that the students deserve more privileges. For a good future in life, you attend school daily. Although currently in school, you are not taught self management. Self management is vital for any future. First, time management lets you be able to plan your time. In the workplace or even college students will have to use this skill by either determining what time you have to wake up to be on time for work, or how long it takes to get from point A to point B. Unfortunately, school doesn’t teach you how to do this; you have to learn by trial and error. In the future, this could mean potentially losing your job or failing a class. This is one of the many characteristics that the new senior privilege of leaving during lunch will teach you. Although there are some qualifications to be able to leave during lunch, each student leaving will be having a sense of self management. Each student who leaves will be reaching towards their goal to be able to leave during the quarter and will be on their best behavior to be responsible enough to receive this privilege. School is a place where you develop and self evaluate yourself, and although leaving during lunch is not educational. Students will become responsible, timely, ambitious, trustworthy, but most importantly prepared for their future.

(2) Op-Ed Articles (3) Earning Media in Feature Articles (4) Call-in shows/ Guest Shows (5) PSAs see board (6) Radio Shows (7) News Releases / News Conferences Jan. 13 2011 (8) Media Events A student would call into a college talk radio or AM radio station. Then the student would say how having senior privileges, they are more prepared for the future by developing their self management skill in a time where they can make mistakes without major consequences. The radio host would then reply with “Can all seniors leave during lunch then?” The student would reply saying that “No, the students’ parents would have to sign a liability form for insurance purposes. Additionally to qualify to leave during lunch, students would have to have a GPA of 2.7 or higher, have no more than 3 administrative detentions and disciplinary record is clear”. The radio host would either state his opinion or finish the call. The student would then say “Thanks for your time and I appreciate your input towards the subject”. This would spread the word about the idea to have the senior privilege to leave during lunch and potentially give future media coverage on the subject.