A former Supreme Court Justice inaugurated a Passyunk Square school's first student council.
Sandra Day O'Connor, who made history as the first female on the country's highest court, helped nearly three dozen students to be likewise monumental by listening to their pledge to promote civility and fairness.
After lunch raised their blood sugar Friday, students at Andrew Jackson School, 1213 S. 12th St., had their heart rates increased courtesy of a rousing visit from former U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
The 81-year-old icon, already familiar with novelty through her time as the first female member of the federal government’s highest judicial body, swore in Jackson’s initial student council. She capped her stay by announcing a national civics contest the Passyunk Square school’s youngsters are eager to win.
The revelry occurred a day before Constitution Day, a celebration of the 224th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. Independence Mall’s National Constitution Center aims to promote awareness and comprehension of the document and devised O’Connor’s journey to Jackson through the Verizon Foundation.
“Last year we started putting emphasis on civics,” second-year principal Lisa Ciaranca-Kaplan, formerly of 21st and Ritner streets, said of enhancing her learners’ engagement through a couple courses. “I believe our action was a clincher for the Constitution Center.”
The eight-year-old facility includes O’Connor on its board of trustees and served as the site for her 2003 receipt of the Liberty Medal. Before venturing to see many of Jackson’s 400 students, the Texas native, who retired from the Court five years ago, presided over the naturalization of 48 new citizens at the center.
The school community learned only recently of its selection as the host site for O’Connor to discuss the Civics Impact Challenge. Nevertheless, Ciaranca-Kaplan and her charges were the picture of preparation when she arrived shortly after 1 p.m. She passed a placard with the preamble to the institution’s constitution to enter a first-floor kindergarten classroom. The excited pupils waited patiently, as Mike Koren, a Wisconsin educator and 2010 winner of the National Middle School Teacher of the Year Award from the National Council for the Social Studies, interviewed the ebullient elder for Verizon’s Thinkfinity Education Speaker Series.
“I like for students to learn how to think,” she said as a lamentation against the dropping of civics as a curriculum component in numerous states.
To counter the decline, she created Our Courts, a website with interactive civics lessons, in February 2009. Her brainchild became iCivics in May ’10, and its resources have assisted more than two million scholars across the country. Studies detailing the time children spend looking at computer and television screens inspired O’Connor to let educational outcomes rival other pursuits.
“I need only one hour to make things happen for a student,” she said of upping democracy-fueled ambition.
Seven topics, including The Judicial Branch, comprise the iCivics offerings. Upon choosing a theme, users peruse subcategories and test their knowledge of the land’s laws. Because of Jackson’s racial diversity, Ciaranca-Kaplan said she feels iCivics helped students to learn of a government that may be entirely new to them. O’Connor, one of the principal’s influences, sees involvement as a means to prove no citizen is helpless.
“You do count,” she iterated to the nation’s budding minds while stressing the need to add one’s stance to any massive issue’s chronicles.
After concluding with Koren, O’Connor welcomed 35 sets of bright eyes into the room. The owners represented the winners of last week’s elections, and they listened as she discussed the contest and their communal roles.
Open to fifth- through 12th-graders, the challenge lets students earn points through playing iCivics’ 14 games. It spans from Oct. 3 to Nov. 30, with the winning class receiving a VGo telepresence robot. The gadget will let learners enjoy multicultural learning experiences with international colleagues, permit homebound students to join classroom activities and take virtual field trips to educational facilities. A virtual visit from O’Connor rounds out the benefits.
“Go for the prize, but you don’t need another visit from me,” she said to laughter.
She discussed career paths, revealing cattle ranching appealed to her prior to falling for the legal world. She told the rapt participants to feel willing to take on multiple tasks in their neighborhoods.
“You don’t need to be famous,” she said. “You just need to care about something and be involved.”
To bolster its enthusiasm for addressing social issues, the Verizon Foundation is funding the challenge through a $20,000 grant.
“We want to boost civics discussions,” Al Browne, national director and vice president of education and technology, said.
Eight summers ago, warfare in Monrovia, Liberia, generated unrest for Daniette Horton and her family. Though none of her relatives perished in the Second Liberian Civil War, the conflict brought the city the constant sound of gunfire and wailing.
Employees of John’s Water Ice, 701 Christian St., were shocked when President Barack Obama paid them an unexpected visit June 30.
Ever since Mayor Michael Nutter introduced Greenworks Philadelphia in spring 2009, the city has been hailed as a top innovator of all things eco-friendly. Two local public schools plan to add green to their respective locations with positive environmental project proposals for the community at large to enjoy.
The music room at Andrew Jackson School, 1213 S. 12th St., contains album covers from such luminaries as The Beatles and Elton John. If the 16 members of the institution’s rock band continue to manipulate their instruments masterfully, future students may be inspecting their images.
John Versace enjoys being a 21st-century figure, but his enthusiasm when portraying a colonial apprentice Monday afternoon revealed the 9-year-old would not have minded coming of age 300 years ago.
Shymir Cruz has years to select a vocation, but the precocious second-grader at Andrew Jackson School, 1213 S. 12th St., might have had his path chosen Friday at City Hall.
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1. Anonymous said... on Oct 5, 2011 at 10:08PM
“What a wonderful experience for the students! More politicians and Judges need to give kids a hands on experience of civics and what it means in their lives. Most know more about Brad and Angelina than the branches of government! Jackson students have gained a true civics education!”