Student Cam 2023 Competition

Here is the theme for the Student Cam 2023 Competition:

"If you were a newly elected member of Congress, which issue would be your first priority and why?”

“StudentCam is C-SPAN's annual national video documentary competition that encourages students to think critically about issues that affect our communities and our nation.

This year, we're asking students in grades 6-12 to create a short (5-6 minute) video documentary on a topic that relates to the competition theme, "If you were a newly elected member of Congress, which issue would be your first priority and why?"

The submission deadline for all entries is Friday, January 20, 2023. With cash prizes totaling $100,000 each year, C-SPAN awards prizes to the top 150 student documentaries. If you are a teacher and listed as an adviser on one of the top 50 winning films, you will also receive a cash award. Since 2004, C-SPAN has awarded over $1.2 million dollars in cash prizes to students and teachers.”

The Money Tree

It seems like every day the government is giving out money. They gave away stimulus checks and now they want to give money for gas every month. Sure, getting money from the government sounds great!

But wait…where is this money coming from? Is it from the Money Tree?

I remember growing up and my parents always telling me that money doesn’t grow on trees. Yet, it seems like someone has forgotten to remind the government of this fact.

I’m not heartless that I don’t want to help the needy. I give to charity. I knit hats and prayer shawls and give money to my church. I try to help those who need help.

But everyone needs to stop and ask themselves where this money is going to come from!

People need to realize that this money is going to come from our taxes, mostly property taxes. Most of the money is going to help those who don’t own property. By doing this, the government is distributing my hard-earned money however they want to do this.

This kind of action hurt those on fixed incomes such as the elderly. Most people on fixed incomes will find their money no longer stretches the way it did. Suddenly those people that use to be able to be independent and pay their own bills will become those who need help. Now we have a larger group of people who will become needy.

How does this help our economy? Does the government think that making more people poor, it will make our country better? Are we rewarding those who don’t work and expect a handout while punishing those that work hard? This doesn’t make any sense.

This reminds me of this version of Aesop’s fable of the Squirrel and the Grasshopper. The squirrel prepares for the winter by laying up supplies while the grasshopper does nothing. In the winter, the grasshopper dies because he didn’t work hard to prepare for the winter. You don’t see Mother Nature taking the squirrel’s supplies to keep the grasshopper alive. Read the rest of this selection to see what happens in the alternate version of the same fable!

I pray that people will wake up and see this. The only way I see that we fight back is by contacting our legislators and urging them to stop giving our money away. I hope that people will fight back by voting against those who think giving away money is the way to go.

Stop thinking there is a Money Tree somewhere!

Photo by micheile || visual stories on Unsplash

Civics Education

I’ve recently read a couple of articles about Nebraska and Minnesota lately addressing the need for more civics education classes.

I remember when I started teaching on the high school level that students were required to take a government class in order to graduate. I don’t really know why they took this requirement out but it is really important for students to learn this information.

Students are not born knowing what their civic responsibilities are and unless we teach them while they are in school, they may never learn.

Each year during election time, I hear that fewer people get out to vote. I’m afraid it will end up like the saying goes, “use it or lose it.” Each year more and more of our rights are eroding away because people are not exercising their right to vote in order to get changes made in our government. I see a lot of apathy and misunderstanding but I feel it is society’s fault for allowing the young people to grow up with this perspective.

If we hope to have a better nation, then we need to start teaching our children how important it is to be involved in what is happening in our government. This might mean running for office or campaigning for a candidate that has the same values that the student believes in. It also includes being knowledgeable about current events and issues that affect everyone in our nation. Everyone who votes can make a difference in who gets elected which can affect what policies and laws are made in our country. We have to teach our students these things.

People shouldn’t run around and complain about our country and the way it is run if they don’t vote during election time. They shouldn’t complain about our taxes or laws if they aren’t willing to research the issues before electing legislators who will vote on these items.

I’m hoping that more and more states will recognize the need for civics education in all classrooms. I believe it should be a requirement before any student graduates from high school.

How do you feel about Civics Education? Please share.

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

Decision Makers Need to Be In the Classroom

Last week I went to a state Council for Exceptional Children’s meeting and heard the discussion about accommodations. The teachers are waiting to hear what tests will be given to their students and then what accommodations that can be given. The district won’t tell them because they are waiting for the state department of education is waiting for the legislators to make decisions. Again, it is the students who lose in these situations. While the bureaucracy plays their political games, students aren’t getting the help that they need.

I don’t have any magical answers or solutions to situations like this. For years I have seen this played out over and over again.

I believe as teachers, we need to get legislators involved in our classrooms. Just as in war time, political players go to the areas where wars are being fought. They get firsthand knowledge of what our soldiers are facing and some of the needs. Well, our war is in the classroom and we need to get these political leaders in our land to see firsthand what is needed for the students.

We can talk with legislators on the state and capitol level all day long. We can write letters and attend rallies to help. But until these legislators spend time in the schools and classrooms for a length of time, they will never understand what teachers and students need.

I have heard several teachers tell me that they tried but didn’t get any response or willingness to be present. My answer to that is to keep trying. Be persistent. Don’t give up. Don’t just invite them to observe but invite them to participate and interact with the students. That will help them get a better picture.

Make a list of three key players and invite them to teach a mini lesson to your classes. Or have them come talk about their position as a law maker and what things they do. You can tie subject areas in to their visit and ask them to explain to your students how they used reading, math, and writing in their everyday lives.

If they don’t accept your invitation this year, then try again next year. Keep offering the invitation and they might feel bad about declining and eventually accept.

Meet with legislators on a regular basis and offer to be available if they need information or input about a certain topic. Legislators need to hear from people who work in the classroom so that they can make informed decisions.

We can’t expect the legislators to come to us. We need to step forward and make this happen. We can’t sit back and complain about the bureaucracy and feel helpless on the sidelines. We need to take action and bring the decision makers into the classroom.

How can you go about involving legislators in your classroom? Please share.

Image: 'Romesha Reception 06'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36463641@N07/8495549557
Found on flickrcc.net