Below are a few outtakes from my recent assignment for Education Week to document and gather portraits of Overland High School students involved in a program seeking to build and strengthen civil discourse skills.
Again, I’m proud to play a part in a larger initiative that Education Week launched in October to help better understand the role of education in the, as many say, current American civics crisis.
Students prepare to break into groups for deliberations, below, Overland High School students discuss a deliberation worksheet covering compulsory voting during social studies class Nov. 9, 2018.
“Doing deliberations allows us to understand the whole issue, not just what we hear in social media, and from our parents and the people at school.” Sammie Shellman reflects after taking part in a “deliberation” in her social studies class at Overland Park High School, near Denver. The structured discussions are meant to help students learn to talk reasonably and calmly about divisive topics.
“It’s tough to argue the side you’re not on. But it’s important to understand other people’s views.” Luis Portillo reflects after taking part in a “deliberation” in his social studies class at Overland Park High School, near Denver. The structured discussions are meant to help students learn to talk reasonably and calmly about divisive topics.
"It's just a whole lot of yelling and finger-pointing out there, people talking over each other instead of hearing each other out," said Lindsey Johnson, an 11th grade student who's learning civil-discourse skills here at Overland High School, near Denver.