The second assignment required students to research an issues and write a letter to an appropriate official recommending that the official take a particular action. Abortion and animal testing were two issues that some students researched before writing their letters.
Ms. Boston’s students were unanimous in saying that they talked about current events in civics class. They referred to the newspaper articles that the teacher and students posted on the bulletin board. Katherine said she was doing research on a country ‘because it was in the news a lot’. Terri further explained,
‘She(the teacher) makes you want to watch the news. She makes it so like, well you watch the news a little bit more and we’ll discuss it more tomorrow. And it’s like, yeah, I’m going to watch this. And if you see something on the news, she makes it all exciting, like, I saw this last night... and when she brings it up you understand it because she makes it clear’
Sarah and Doreen recalled Ms. Boston’s class talking about events in Africa,China, and Cuba.
In addition to saying they discussed current events and did projects on countries in the news, Ms. Boston’s students described watching videos, participating in a mock court, and experiencing simulations about an election and Congress. Katherine ‘though it was good when we got to break into groups and try to pass bills and that... that gave you an idea of how the government operates and what Congress does’. Danny said, ‘That [the Congressional simulation] was fun. We were actually doing something... I like to argue’. Joan summarized the class by saying, ‘She makes it fun because she keeps relating it to things now, and then she lets us get involved in everything’. Terri and Joan further explained,
Terri: We get in conversations... she asks us to give examples and comment... and let you get in groups together and communicate,like give your own opinions and lets the whole class discuss their opinions out loud...
Joan: She just doesn’t let one person give their opinion. She likes to get to everybody... it’s my favourite class. I think it is fun because she relates to things now, and she’s funny and she’s nice.
Terri: It’s one of my favourites mainly because she lets us get involved and