ERIC Number: EJ977064
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1066-2847
EISSN: N/A
From Awareness to Action
Micklos, John, Jr.
Teaching Tolerance, n41 p39-41 Spr 2012
What inspires young people to become activists? Events such as wars or regime changes obviously raise high emotions. But some choose to get involved because they saw a need and felt compelled to take action. Young Americans have a long track record as activists. Among other things, they played a key role in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. And young people were actively involved in protests against the Vietnam War and the war in Iraq. Schools and teachers can help inspire students to get involved as activists. For instance, many high schools have diversity clubs designed to promote awareness and activism around the issue of developing respect for all people, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, mental or physical aptitude, nationality and other traits. Many schools also have clubs that focus on specific areas of activism. Becoming involved as activists "not only is a crucial part of students' learning and core competencies around critical thinking, but it also allows them to have an impact on critical issues of the moment." They are actually doing community organizing, and this civic engagement makes for well-rounded students and lays the foundation for future opportunities as well.
Descriptors: Civil Rights, Activism, War, Clubs, Teacher Role, Sexual Orientation, Young Adults, Foreign Countries, Cultural Pluralism, Race, Religion, Physical Characteristics, Consciousness Raising, Critical Thinking, Citizen Participation
Southern Poverty Law Center. 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104. Tel: 334-956-8200; Fax: 334-956-8484; Web site: http://www.tolerance.org/teach/magazine/index.jsp
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A