"Make the Case"--Host a Hearing Activity

Global Campaign for Education

NEA International Relations

Objective:
Students will conduct a mock Congressional hearing in which a panel of student "experts" makes the case for universal basic education before student "members of Congress." This activity can include one individual classroom to an entire community. Documentation of the hearing (scripts, photos, videos) will be delivered or sent to members of Congress with a message about the importance of universal primary education.

Plan the hearing
First decide on where the hearing will be held and who will participate in it. Will it be a classroom activity? A schoolwide event? A community-wide hearing hosted by a local organization?
 

Send out letters to potential participants, inviting them to serve on the panel or congressional committee that will hear the students' case. Consider inviting parents; your members of Congress; school district and local government officials; and local TV or radio personalities.

Once the date is set and the panel members selected, tell the local media about the event and invite them to document the hearing!

Prepare your case
This is the most important part, and the entire class should be involved. What are the important issues to "make the case" for education? Students should include facts and figures about the state of education in the world today and can give personal testimony about why school is important to them and their communities.

Have students decide the different roles they will play during the hearing. Some can read the arguments that the class has prepared, others can respond to questions from the committee members, and others can take notes of the event.

Make posters or signs for the day of the hearing that promote the main themes and messages that "make the case" for education. Hang the posters around the school or where the event is taking place.

After the event, write thank you letters to all invited guests who participated in the hearing.
 

Take or send the documentation (about scripts, videos, photos) to your district congressional offices. The materials should be accompanied with the message:

Dear Senator _____: or Dear Representative _____:
Over 100 million school-age children in the world have never set foot in a classroom. The United States needs to contribute its fair share, with other industrialized nations, to realize this human right to education. It is our responsibility. Please show your commitment in Congress for basic education by allocating $650 million for next year's budget, FY-07, of which $500 million can be taken from the Development Assistance Account.

Thank you. The world's children will benefit from your actions.

To locate the district offices of your member of Congress and senators, go to: www.senate.gov/ and www.house.gov/.

Tell us about your hearing! oir@nea.org

Related Resources

» Global Campaign for Education, "Make the Case"--Poster Activity
» Global Campaign for Education, "Make the Case"--Cutout "Friend" Activity