In addition, as with any project, planning will help you to: If you don't plan, you may waste valuable energy, miss some opportunities, perhaps even antagonize people you need to keep on your side. Secretly tell each student how powerful to be in the meeting and how much to speak -- make it so that the student and parent speak significantly less than the school psychologist and special education director. During the simulation, the school board members announce each agenda item and ask for public comment. When you campaign for votes, it's good to know the kind of person who you'd like to vote for you. The Student Council at Aztec High has risen to the challenge. Student-Generated Questions, Part 1: Making Space for Student Voices The fact is that good ideas are the real currency of social progress. When designing an advocacy campaign, you need to understand your target audience to reach them effectively. Lets say youre starting a campaign to raise awareness on the climate change problem. Demonstrate that your club is strong and growing. Taking care of the elderly is an innate part of Filipino culture, but theres a dire lack of infrastructure that caters to the elderly. Speak slowly. All parents are eligible to join. ", Not: "Smoking in our community will be reduced," but instead: "The percentage of smokers in our community will decline by 30% by the year 2000.". 0000001421 00000 n Cultivate an attitude of "bouncing back." Chicago, IL: Midwest Academy. As a follow-up, divide the entire class into groups of 4 and have them all do IEP meetings that represent the ideal situation. By 2015, Malapascua Island and Gato Island became the Philippines first shark and ray sanctuary via Executive Order 16-2015. For starters, fill up the roles for the lead organizer, campaign marketer, and volunteer headthen branch out from there. You can also speak up in a way that's comfortable for you. Pretty impressive. Throughout history good ideas rise have always risen from the bottom to the top. Do you know what kind of student speech is protected by the First Amendment? Brainstorm the names of key leaders in your state or community. Often, principals pick parents that are active, meaning they attend and volunteer at school events. Or you might hear rumors to the effect that your people would be met with massive force. Be concise: A slogan should be concise and to the point. This post was written by NCTE member Chris Hass, past member of the NCTE Standing Committee on Literacy Assessment.. A few years ago, I read Jeanette Winter's book, The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq (2005), to my third-grade students as a way to build excitement for the year of incredible reading we were about to embark on. ACA focuses on two types of advocacy: (1) issue advocacy and (2) legislative advocacy. Sometimes, doing whats best for our students means stepping out of our comfort zones and engaging the public and other stakeholders. Raise awareness: participate in community events and celebrate children's learning. After just a month, the page saw an. From 2012 to 2015, it ran the. School districts or individuals can also do this. Advocating for policy change. Student advocacy focuses on identifying students' educational needs and then taking proactive steps to gain maximum support for meeting those needs through educational policy and state and federal laws. Advocacy wrap-up and a farewell message from Nicole - Students' Union The bad news is that the sort of charitable foundation that might fund a day-care center most generously may not want to put any money at all into advocacy. 0000001900 00000 n Better health care for the poor in Jefferson County. 6 volunteers interpreting state regulations and setting similar policies for its district 103+ Best Student Council Campaign Slogans Ideas & Samples Keep in mind that opinion leaders are not always what might be called the "most important people" in a community. Open Your Calendar to Regular Meetings With Student Club Leaders. It's important to complete a plan before you start advocating, because, as you will find, each part of the plan can affect the others. Likewise, you want to curate your social media feed to reinforce the campaigns big idea. Planning is best done as a group activity. Finding out your students talents, interests, needs, and goals will give you the important information necessary to advocate for them. Resources for advocacy may be very different from those needed to run service programs in the community. It may be useful to brainstorm strategies in the group, and write down those that you feel will help you attain your goals. Encourage your classmates to unplug for the day and get outside! 0000000764 00000 n Otherwise, the risk is that they get overly caught up in the visuals and media. Leadership development conferences for officers, Shred-a-thon: Document and e-waste recycling, Lemonade Stand Fundraiser at Sporting Events, Tutoring program for middle and elementary students, Making memorial ribbons for city/national causes, Collect books for community library or non-profit, Penny jar collection to vote for favorite teacher, Santa and Elves deliver gifts to childrens hospital or elementary school, Free throw contest / Field goal contest during halftime, Host a water station for a community marathon, bike race, Invite police to speak about safety and present demonstrations. compelled to follow these laws and policies. At the end of the day, a successful advocacy campaign is only possible if you have the heart for the cause youre supporting. What are the barriers for your idea? However, others may prefer to get all the planning for one major action onto one "Campaign Planning Chart.". Pull together a small group of colleagues and brainstorm the names of opinion leaders in your area. Student council is a great place to launch a new idea that can benefit your community. Is a need for better planning? to remain available. Remain sensitive to their feelings and do whats right for them as an individual. Avoid using complex words or phrases. Doing this will give you a clearer idea of how to draft your advocacy campaign. I can say that many insightful and powerful ideas for campus recovery have come out of meetings with students at Aztec High. The Raising Student Voice & Participation program (RSVP) is becoming a driving force on high school campuses to promote collective student voice and effect real change in school. That reorganization, though, and the underlying effort, will have much to do with reviving the American education system, and reviving a national love of learning. This initiative invited the youth to submit proposals on project ideas to promote climate change action. Think of it as a deadline to finish all the steps needed before implementation. In one year, the City Council will create six new low-income housing units, In six months, we will have changed the hours of the clinic to increase access, In nine months, two major businesses will have introduced flextime policies that permit adults to be with children after school, By June, we'll have signed up 10 new members, In two months, we'll hold the first public hearing, By the November election, we will get 1,500 people out to vote, Funds (including in-kind contributions) balanced against expenses, People who are already available (both staff and volunteers), and their skills, Facilities (e.g., access to transportation and computers, meeting rooms), Access to information archives or libraries. 0 SPS provided teachers with marine science education training and gave phones to the Bantay Dagats or sea watchers to stay connected with local officials. Make the best use of (and don't antagonize) your allies, Produce the kind of change you want in your opponents, Increase public awareness through a media campaign, Gather data about violations of the law to encourage increased levels of enforcement, Work for policy change in local government, Apply economic pressure on merchants through boycotts, Blockade the entrances to specific stores, Be prepared to be arrested for your act of civil disobedience, Carry out your strategy, and are appropriate for your goals, Fit your style (one tactic out of control can wreck a whole campaign), Are doable and cost effective, within your resources, funds, allies and good will, Make your group feel good about themselves, and what they are doing. Public health advocacy: Creating community change to improve health. Spotlight On: Haley Baum - News | Stockton University This translated to around 800,000 families, which they hoped to help by raising PHP 5 million and organizing one million volunteers. . That can mean scaling down to reach a small community before coming up with a city-wide project. The louder the conversations are, the higher the chances of normalizing mental illnesses and reducing the stigma surrounding them. You cant do it all on your own! Actively Encourage Participation in Student Government Organizations. Learn how to properly plan for advocacy to avoid surprises that might make you look ineffective, clumsy, or incompetent, in order to increase your chances of success. and the Senior Council. As someone from the same generational cohort, you can send a powerful message by talking about these factors. Strategies & Platforms - Student Government - CSU Channel Islands Remember that it's better to keep your focus on a relatively narrow, manageable group of issues, rather than letting yourselves try to cover too much ground, and lose strength in the process. Join the local school Here's one possible format, which has a built-in double-check to make sure each strategy is on target. Vote with ECE in mind - in local, state and federal elections. Students research, present, and justify opinions and recommendations in service of advocating for people in need of support. Advocacy in School Counseling: Top 5 Tips 167 11 Encouraging Involvement of Potential Opponents as Well as Allies, Community Advocacy: A Psychologists Toolkit for State and Local Advocacy, This online PDF provides information on understanding the problem you are trying to solve, identifying an alternative aim, and breaking down the objectives as part of the advocacy planning cycle, Center for Community Health and Development. Skills such as self-advocacy need to be practiced over and over to sink in. Some of these relate to the development of programs, but some fit well under the rubric of advocacy - that is, they involve identifying specific targets of change, and encouraging that change for the good of the community. such a position, and all you must do is ask the school principal. Did you come up short on the most vital resource of all--the people who are willing to help? Your main targets of change will be the tobacco retailers. Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? These are not daily activities, but instead might take place over a whole week to allow for both preparation and extensive debrief discussions, so students understand the distinctions between the simulation scenario and what people actually go through in life. Where does it meet your expectations? For example, you might be all set to barricade a logging trail in an environmental cause, when you hear that a state senator is about to propose legislation that would go some way towards accomplishing what you want; your barricade might cause some senators to vote against him. Think, act, and do positive things - It's as simple as being positive. I wasn't portion of the 'in-crowd' but I know good plenty that people knew me. 5 Ways to Advocate for K-12 Students in Your Community To begin this process you could begin by describing what the ideal school environment would be. No worries. Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students to take care of their personal property? Some educators who use Student for a Day programs, make sure that a test is being given by the students to the visitors on the day the leader attends class. Specify what you want to achieve with the campaign. Given the high incidence of breast cancer in the country, spreading awareness on the issue can help people spot early signs of cancer and prevent a full-on medical battle. Also, offer some materials on social studies. IEP Role Plays: Before doing the role play, students are introduced to the purpose of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meeting and the history of their role in serving the needs of people with disabilities. The campaigns provided facts about the virus and shared tips to enhance peoples safety. This plan will serve as your roadmap to success. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. 1. Organize and Attend Student Decision-Making Meetings on Campus Issues. PDF 100 Ideas For Your Student Council - hcs-k12.org All rights reserved. And it would have been hard to win them back, after publicly coming out against their interests. Then, after they've been debated, record the ideas you've chosen in a permanent place. The Best Student Council Fundraising Ideas (A+ for All Grades) 4. If youre passionate about the environment and want to help protect the planet, this advocacy will be suitable for you. These debriefs can also be a good opportunity for students to address their own privilege and how they might approach future situations differently. Spread the loveTeachers need to realize that at home, in their neighborhoods, and in school, many students face difficulties that can interfere with learning. The mission of National Council for the Social Studies is to advocate and build capacity for high-quality social studies by providing leadership, services, and support to educators. Following these tips will slowly, but surely, improve your work environment and your students' counseling program! What Makes an Advocacy Campaign Successful? We call for a relatively radical and certainly quite comprehensive reorganization of Americas P-20 system. Or maybe, you tried to run for a seat but lost the election. Keep one section for each of the headings above: Funds, People presently available, People expected to be available, Useful community contacts, Facilities, and Access to other resources. How do these assignments connect to Common Core Speaking & Listening Standards? Each interest group goes up to deliver their remarks related to the agenda item. For example, you may find it useful to attach your plan to each major objective. . 5. Spread the loveThe International Baccalaureate Program is a very intensive pre-college program in which when students get involved, they get college credit. Ideas, Inspiration, and Giveaways for Teachers. Afterwards, have a discussion about who was most powerful, how they could tell, and how they would make it different. first thing you need to do is educate yourself about the education policies and Follow up with a phone call to encourage their participation. Once you have your goals written down, it's easier to make an inventory of the resources you'll need, in terms of organization, money, facilities, and allies--and the assets you have already. Student Advocacy and Issues Committee | HGSE Office of Student Affairs You have the right to contact school board members and voice your These recommendations can help build your confidence in your ability to stand up for your students effectively. Once you have the basics down, you can design an implementation plan outlining your main activities and timeline. A visible leader is an approachable leader to young people. Many choices at lunch time, including healthy options. The mission of the Student Council is to serve as a student advocacy and advisory group which acts as a liaison between the students and administration of USG to communicate on behalf of the student population. It also shows them you care about their well-being and success. Provide Tools for Student Voice. @3S6w,|jf;~ Y5rZ. That can be through art, social media, or volunteer efforts. Johnson shared ways students can continue to be leaders, not just among their classmates, but for their families, community members, and others. practices, they have no choice but to remedy the situation or face legal action. appointed by the mayor, and the rest are Or you might be told that alternative old logging trails are to be opened up. Your childs school and What we envisage may not be the most straightforward or the most conventional ideas. By October 5just eight days after the campaigns launchthe petition garnered 270 signatures, surpassing its target of 200. Ruby Haile, a student at Northlake Woods Public School, was one of the Grade 5 students selected to take part and she shared her idea for . Try not to be discouraged by setbacks along the way. One way is to write up ideas on the chalkboard or on butcher paper. The Community Tool Box is a service of the. Q5t Fawcett, S. B., & Paine, A., et al. Write a blog post. The Chosen Projects: UP Student Mental Health Advocacy Projects