Democracy, dissent and decisionmaking

above: in the fall of 2024, seventh grade made “I voted!” stickers as part of a conversation about advocacy and non-verbal communication.

Election Day is a major holiday at a school that asks each child to find and use their own voice, and that strives to model how people in a diverse community can find common ground.

Conversations on voting rights begin in Early Childhood, and extend through eighth grade, when students travel to Georgia and Alabama to meet with veterans of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement and meet with activists working today to keep the election process open and accessible.

As September 2024 arrived, Gordon committed to foreground conversations about the presidential election and its consequences, and actively lead discussions on democracy, dissent and democracy, for adults and students alike.

Lessons on democracy, dissent and group decisionmaking from 2024-2025 include:

March 7th
A powerful act you are performing every day from incoming Head of School Meredith deChabert
 

February 27th
Witness to justice seventh grade at US District Court
 

February 12th
Freedom to read seventh grade looks at the first amendment
 

January 30th
Some lessons from history, and strategies for the days ahead from Gordon's Head of School
 

January 24th
Setting strategies for positive change a schoolwide celebration of King’s vision
 

January 22nd
We can always do better radical optimism and careful critiques in seventh grade civics

 

November 6th
On disappointment a practical guide to a powerful feeling

November 5th
Facing a new chapter a reflection from our Head of School
 

November 5th
This is what it looked like Election Day lessons across the school

October 27th
Using our voices in the New York Times with two eighth grade leaders
 

October 16th
The mysteries of the electoral college in seventh grade
 

October 1st
Disagreeing with grace in Middle School and among our adult community
 

September 20th
Exploring debate in seventh and third grades
 

September 10th
Democracy and activism taught alongside math and reading in Young Kindergarten and second grade
 

September 12th
Talking to young people about the election - six tips for caregivers