Newton Students Receive Civics Day Award at MA Statehouse

A group of F.A. Day Middle School students received the Open-Mindedness Award for their civics project advocating for student representation on the Newton District Safety Committee at this year’s Generation Citizen Civics Day, held May 10 at the Massachusetts State House.

Generation Citizen is a nationwide program that prepares students to participate in our democracy. Students from F.A. Day and Bigelow Middle Schools participate in this innovative civics curriculum through funding from Newton Schools Foundation. Over the course of Generation Citizen’s in-class program, students choose an issue they care about, develop a focused, strategic plan to address the issue, take real action, and then reflect on their successes, challenges, and plans moving forward. Students have worked on issues such as homelessness, school safety, curriculum modernization methane gas leak mitigation, cafeteria food waste, affordable housing, and minimum wage. Many student groups met with Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller to present their issues and action plans. State Representative Kay Khan came to Day to meet with students and multiple city department heads engaged with the students as well.

The four-month long unit culminates in Generation Citizen Civics Day at the Massachusetts Statehouse, where participants from across the state gather to share their projects and experiences.

The Day Middle School students won the Open-Mindedness Award for “thoughtfully reflecting on the Generation Citizen process and experience and connecting it to the future.” They decided to focus on student safety after the Parkland school shooting.

“This is a great example of NSF funds in action,” said Marcia Tabenken, Newton Schools Foundation board president. “The Generation Citizen curriculum in Newton’s middle schools is one way that donors to Newton Schools Foundation support important and meaningful educational opportunities for Newton students.”

Three years ago, NSF provided the seed money for a team at F.A. Day to pilot the Generation Citizen program. Following the pilot’s success, NSF has continued to fund the expansion of the program, now offered to all civics classes at both Day and Bigelow,

“The program never would have happened without the support of Newton Schools Foundation,” said Tim Matthews, F.A. Day social studies teacher. “Newton Schools Foundation’s goal of preparing students to thrive in a complex world has been borne out in their support of Generation Citizen. Our students were thrilled to be researching, writing and most importantly acting upon real issues in their community. Generation Citizen brings out the best in our Newton students by teaching them advocacy skills, enhancing their ability to communicate, and then letting them loose. If anyone has doubts about students today – seeing our students’ projects will make them reassess their beliefs,” added Matthews.

At this year’s Civics Day, student representatives from classes around the Commonwealth presented their plans to other students, community members, and public officials, celebrating their work and gaining feedback to further their efforts. Civics Day is a chance for students to explore ways to continue their civic engagement after the end of the program. This year, Massachusetts Senate President Harriet Chandler gave a keynote address about the importance of civic engagement and a bill currently in the state senate regarding funding for civics education. “Generation Citizen is just one of many promising initiatives that advance educational excellence in the Newton Public Schools, which Newton Schools Foundation funds through the generosity of donors in our community,” Tabenken said.