Vermont Project Citizen

11/15/06 - Fall Newsletter

The Twinfield Union School portfolio “Vermont’s Energy Savior: Wind Power” got an exceptional rating at the National Showcase of portfolios held recently at the National Conference of State Legislatures Annual meeting in Nashville, TN. Congratulations. At some point in the next few years it will be Vermont’s turn to showcase an extra portfolio along with the students who created it at the NCSL Annual Meeting.

There’s a great opportunity available at the State House for your students to engage in the political process. Alice Merrill, who coordinates the tours, has added a simulated committee hearing role play for middle level students. In this activity which requires in-class preparation, students take the roles of legislators, lobbyists, and citizens to process a bill in committee. The preliminary work comes with researching aspects of the bill so that students can “testify” in committee and rationally discuss aspects of the bill. The role play ends with a mock legislative session where committee reports are heard, then floor debate and finally action on the bill. This year the bill is S.238 which proposes raising the tobacco age from 18 to 21. Alice can work out arrangements for your group. amerrill@leg.state.vt.us or (802) 828-1411.

Several years ago each school in Vermont was mailed a VCR copy of The People’s Guide to the Vermont Legislature, a 27 minute explanation of the General Assembly using interviews, charts and a very well done narrative. If you’d like a copy, ask around your building, check with other buildings in your district and maybe other schools in your area. If that doesn’t work, contact Videosyncracies 1-800-559-0000 or www.vidsync.com. They have the DVD for $12 and VHS for $9.95. This is a teacher discounted rate. Ask for the separate “Teachers’ Guide” which has updated Grade Expectations. There is a shipping charge.

High School level Project Citizen text - The Center for Civic Education has just issued this edition which provides more background and content on public policy. In addition there’s more detail for the organizing steps in building the portfolio panels and more material for the reflection piece. When we’ve received our supply, we’ll see that each current teacher of Project Citizen receives a copy.

Teachers’ Guide for Middle Level text - The Center has indicated this should be available soon. If you indicated to the Center a desire to have the teachers’ guide, they will send a copy directly to you. If not, let Dale Newton or Bill Haines know of your need.

Calendar of Events for 2006-07
Wednesday, Nov. 15 - Civics Summit (State House)
Friday, Dec. 1 - VT Council of the Social Studies Annual Conference (Manchester) - Hearing demonstration by Rutland Town students
Friday, Jan. 12 - Introductory workshop at Rivendell Academy, Orford, NH - Basic one-day workshop
Monday, Feb. 12 - H.S. text workshop (to be determined) - Introduction to H.S. text and program
Wednesday, Feb. 14 - VLCT Local Gov't Day (Montpelier) - Local Official pairings with students
Thursday, March 1 - Display at the State House (Card Room) - Sample portfolios with students
Thursday, March 15 - Experienced teacher workshop (Montpelier) - Putting together a quality portfolio
Monday, May 14 - State Portfolio Display Day (State House)

Portfolio Foam Board – Project Citizen Vermont has purchased 250 sheets of the 32”X40” foam board for portfolios. Each participating school will have up to 12 sheets (enough for three portfolios) gratis. Additional sheets can be purchased through Bill Haines at $2.50 per sheet.

We are looking for the following portfolio boards and binders:
Tobacco Ads in Newsweek
If you have them or know of their whereabouts, please let Dale or Bill know. We would like to use them in workshops and displays.

5/16/06 - Thank you to all of the school and teams that helped to make our 2006 Showcase at the Capitol a great success. The students' work in the committees was especially impressive.

Press release for the Showcase results. (pdf)

8/31/05 - The results of the National Showcase are now posted on the Center for Civic Education's site. Vermont's portfolio from Twinfield Union School (Restoring the Pledge of Allegiance) was awarded

5/15/05 - "Bill Haines, A retired history teacher guides students – young and old – toward good citizenship" By Susan Youngwood - A Sunday feature article from the Times Argus

If you missed this piece about Bill and the Vermont Project Citizen Program, please take the time to go to the article. Pass it along to others in your school community. Our goal is to double the number of participating schools in the next two years!