Should
by: Teresa Snodgrass and Diane Winningham
Introduction
Due to a recent increase in discipline referrals, the school board members of your corporation are considering mandating school uniforms. You are one of four students chosen to represent the student body in this decision. Your team must work together to be well informed and prepared to convince the school board of your opinion.
Task
Students will be placed in groups of four. You will assume the role of a student, teacher, parent or administrator. You will research both sides of the school uniform issue as seen through the eyes of your role. Your group will then come together and form a consensus. Your presentations will support your stand on the issue of school uniforms.
Resources
http://www.sambarpress.com/chuck/shouldst.htm
http://www.channelone.com/news/exchange/opinions/2003/10/03/se_uniforms/
http://www.muse.widener.edu/~egr0001/EDControversy/Eppinger.html
http://www.schooluniforms-not.org/debates.html
http://eric.uoregon.edu/publications/digests/digest117.html
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/infocus/fashion/school.html
Process
Think and discuss the questions below together as a group. Use these questions to help you formulate the surveys and presentations.
*Do school
uniforms encourage better discipline?
*Do
school uniforms instill a sense of pride?
*Would
the usage of a school uniform policy at your school promote a sense of
security?
*Do
school uniforms combat gang related violence?
*Using a
school uniform policy will or will not reduce peer pressure in relation to the
student's wardrobe?
*Do
school uniforms violate student's rights to personal identity and lst Amendment rights of freedom of expression?
*Will
the school uniform policy require low-income parents to buy uniforms?
After considering the questions above, each individual in each group will need to choose a particular group of people that are listed below.
Students Teachers
Parents Administration
1. After being assigned a particular group stated above, each student will need to create a survey for their group. For example, if you were given the "students" as your group, you would need to create a survey for "students."
2. Each survey should include at least l0 questions and no more than 20.
3. The student should survey both individuals that use the uniform policy and those who do not.
4. The number of students surveyed should be figured by using 75% of the student body of your particular school. The number of teachers and parents surveyed should be figured in the same manner. However, since the number of Administration is a lower quantity, survey 20 in this particular group.
5. Each group should create a timeline in which they will pass out the surveys and retrieve the information.
6. Once all the surveys have been completed, the information should be compiled into a presentation for the class project. This presentation could be in the form of two or more of any of the following: Power Point, video, Hyperstudio, guest speakers, panel debate, outside resources, etc. The presentation should be between 20 and 30 minutes in length.
7. The group presentation that receives the most points will be given the opportunity to defend their stand on the uniform issue before the School Board.
Evaluation
Group Survey Presentation
|
60 points possible |
-actively participates in group -attends all
meetings ____/20 |
-appropriate # polled |
-organized |
|
30 points possible |
-attends all meetings |
-difficult to understand |
-limited use of technology |
|
15 points possible |
-unprepared for meetings |
-didn't poll sufficient # people |
-unorganized |
Conclusion
Hopefully this format has allowed you to look at a controversial issue from several sides. By surveying and representing more than one group regarding this issue, it is the hopes of the instructors that a well informed opinion will be reached.