Activism & Service Learning

California Teachers Honor Students & Groups

A third grader and his classmates organized a newspaper, sold copies for a quarter, and donated the proceeds to their school's science and music programs, which had been slashed in budget cuts.

A high school student who has lived in foster homes advocated for passage of legislation to improve the rights of foster youth.

Both students were among the individual students and groups honored by California Teachers Association Peace and Justice Caucus Youth Activism Awards, a tradition now three years old. The caucus's purpose is to encourage more students to get involved, to get more kids to say, "I want to do something about the issues that affect me and people around me. I can't just sit back and complain."

Other Projects Around the Country
Here are some other projects students are working on with their teachers:

» Her Students Gave Largest Donation Ever From High School Students - Their money helped clear land mines in Africa.

» Giving Back to the Community - Their field trips transformed both the students and the park.

» Learning, In Deed: Students Change Their Community  - A psychology teacher and her high school students work and learn in their community. 

» National & Global Youth Service Day - An opportunity to introduce young people to volunteering.