Boston students give government officials a civics lesson

BOSTON - Mayor Thomas M. Menino, School Committee Chairperson Rev. Gregory Groover, Superintendent Carol R. Johnson and other city and state officials recently met with students from several high schools to discuss the future of Civics education in the Boston Public Schools (BPS).

The officials observed Mr. Efrain Toledano’s Civics class at the English High School, followed by a roundtable discussion in the school library during which students updated them on the program and discussed their plans for engaging Boston students more fully in civic activities. Participants included State Representative Jeffrey Sanchez, City Councilors John Connolly, John Tobin, and Chuck Turner, and School Committee members Helen Dájer and Claudio Martinez. Mr. Martinez is also the Executive Director of the Hyde Square Task Force, which helped develop the Civics program.

“These young people are Boston’s future and it is critical that they become engaged in the issues facing our City,” Mayor Menino said. “We’re impressed with what we’ve seen and heard today and hope that we can find ways to bring Civics education to more students in Boston Public Schools.”

Superintendent Johnson added, “Now more than ever, it is important that students understand how they can have an impact on the issues that affect their lives. The Civics curriculum, which was itself the result of student activism, helps students develop the knowledge and tools they need to become active members of their communities.”

About a year ago, the Mayor and Superintendent met with a group of students from the Hyde Square Task Force interested in developing a Civics curriculum for the Boston Public Schools. With support from the City and school district, students worked with educators to develop a curriculum and launched a pilot program.  Today, more than 80 juniors and seniors participate in action-based Civics classes at the English High School and Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, with plans to expand the program to other schools.

“Engaging students intellectually is the major challenge in urban high school reform efforts,” said Mr. Martinez. “Research has shown that students who are literate in our democratic process and participate in civic engagement activities achieve greater academic progress, are more responsible, and are more likely to graduate from college.”

Students from the English High School’s ETV television broadcast program videotaped the event for broadcast on the BPS-TV website.

The Hyde Square Task Force (HSTF) serves over 1000 youth and their families in the Hyde-Jackson Square neighborhoods of Jamaica Plain and Roxbury. Through high-quality arts, academic, organizing, and cultural programming, HSTF works to develop the skills of youth so that they are empowered to enhance their own lives and build a strong, safe, and vibrant urban community. For more information, visit www.hydesquare.org.