Students become the teachers in civics showcase

In a role reversal that drew a crowd to the Ellen Garrison Building at Acton Middle School, eighth graders spent November 19 explaining to adults what issues they think matter the most.

The event is an annual partnership between the middle school and the League of Women Voters of Acton-Carlisle. Every eighth grade student, as a part of their social studies class, picks an issue they care about and creates a presentation explaining why the problem matters and offering potential solutions. 

Some students chose environmental projects, such as Gregory Bellegarde, who advocated for planting more trees to purify the air, and Siena Benvenuto, who explored ways to clean up litter. Other students took up a social issue, including Quincy McCarthy, who sought ways to support people with disabilities. 

The project rationales also varied. Gregory said he chose his topic simply because he wants to “breathe clean air.” Quincy said she chose hers because her neighbor is disabled, “and I would like access for people with disabilities.” 

League member Emily Wheeler stood among the early arrivals at the Ellen Garrison Building at Acton Middle School. Fresh off hearing a presentation from Maggie Elliot on habitat loss, she said she comes back each year because the students’ research and problem-solving “is just so exciting to see.”

It’s “great to see what topics kids come up with and the depth that they go into in exploring it and coming up with some solutions,” she said. 

Community connection

Susan Frey, chair of the Civics Education Committee at the LWVCC, said the showcase helps connect kids to their community at a crucial time. 

“Eighth grade is a crossroads in your life,” she said. “You begin to see big problems, and we don’t want to overwhelm them, but we want to help them take a manageable chunk and say, ‘Here’s something I care about, and here’s something I can do to make a difference.’” 

Frey also said the showcase is good not just for the students, but also for the residents who attend. 

“It’s so inspiring for the community to see young people who aren’t afraid to look at these challenges and recognize they can make a difference,” she said. 

Siena and Quincy explained that the project is more than just a presentation. Students must take initiative to connect with their issues and get involved, such as volunteering, having a bake sale, and planting trees. 

Quincy said that when someone hears about issues from people who care, they “learn to respect the topics.” 

And Gregory said that knowing the issues is a step in itself. 

“It’s important to inform people of the problems happening not only in their town,” he said, “but all over the world.”