High school civics class

Clara's American Conversations Commonplace Blog: Democracy in training: "Today, I am very proud of my little brother. He's a freshman in a school district that is facing some very, very painful budget cuts for the..."

Thanks, Clara, for this posting about your brother's action at his high school and the conversation the two of you had later in the day.  You've given us a vivid, specific example of the intersection of civil society and government as the students expressed their interests and needs to the decision makers by exercising their freedom of assembly and freedom of speech.  I'm reminded of Mary Ryan's article and of her analysis of the ways persons without "the vote" nonetheless have been able to influence legislation.  I'm also thinking that this event may teach the students as much about being citizens as they would absorb in several days sitting passively in an old-style high school civic class.