Democracy in Action: Experiential Civics Learning in Afterschool Advocacy Days

Autor/in	Blank, Susan
Titel	Democracy in Action: Experiential Civics Learning in Afterschool Advocacy Days
Quelle	In: Afterschool Matters, (2006) 5, S.23-29 (7 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Schlagwörter	Civics; After School Programs; Advocacy; Youth Programs; Financial Support; Citizenship Education; Democracy; Leadership Training; Social Development; Emotional Development; Government Role; Problem Solving; Social Problems; Political Issues; New York + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Staatsbürgerkunde; After school education; After-school programs; Program; Programs; Programme; Außerschulische Jugendbildung; Programm; Sozialanwaltschaft; Jugendsofortprogramm; Finanzielle Förderung; Citizenship; Education; Politische Bildung; Politische Erziehung; Staatsbürgerliche Erziehung; Demokratie; Führungslehre; Soziale Entwicklung; Gefühlsbildung; Problemlösen; Social problem; Soziales Problem; Politischer Faktor
Abstract	Cosponsored by Coalition for After-School Funding (CASF) and The After-School Corporation (TASC), After-School Advocacy Days have been held annually in Albany, NY since 2000. These events are enormously helpful to the two sponsors' efforts to influence officials who make decisions about funding afterschool programs. The annual event is designed to help young people convince legislators to continue and expand afterschool programming. Besides the role that a strong youth presence plays in delivering the Advocacy Day message to lawmakers, the day's organizers cite equally important educational and youth development purposes for the event. Advocacy Day exposes young people to an experiential civics lesson that gives them a feel for participating in democratic processes. The event's active and participatory nature also offers youth opportunities to exercise leadership and speaking skills that contribute to social and emotional growth. Advocacy Day takes place against a backdrop of concern about whether today's youth will be ready and willing to participate in civic affairs when they become adults. TASC and CASF have found that Advocacy Days help students make connections between government's problem-solving role and the concerns they currently face in their daily lives. Nonprofit organizations considering their own advocacy days are likely to face legal and ethical concerns, such as jeopardizing their tax-exempt status. This paper includes suggestions for addressing such concerns, as well as maximizing the educational value of Advocacy Days. ["Democracy in Action: Experiential Civics Learning in Afterschool Advocacy Days" was written with Lucy N. Friedman and Kathleen Carlson.] (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	National Institute on Out-of-School Time. Wellesley Centers for Women, 106 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02481. Tel: 781-283-2547; Fax: 781-283-3657; e-mail: niost@wellesley.edu; Web site: http://www.niost.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01