Stay Connected Wednesday Weekly SSMS News

Please stand for the Pledge I pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United

States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

Stay Tuned for Student Government Campaign Introductions

Student Government Elections

Congratulations to the Winners of the Hispanic Heritage Competition!

Angela HenriquezAshlyn RitzMia SantiagoAaliyah HillChristian Baumbach* These students received free passes for Dance Center of Orlando or Semoran Skateway.

Project Wisdom

SSMS News & AnnouncementsProject Wisdom #11 10/30/13

Counting for Something!

A few Words of Wisdom Good morning, South Seminole. This is Ms. Taylor, Academic Dean, with a few words of wisdom.

All American citizens over the age of 18 have the right to vote. Many have fought and died for that right. Many have suffered.

One such person was Dr. Alice Paul who in 1917 picketed the White House for a woman’s right to vote. She was arrested, put into chains, and thrown into jail, where she was served worm-infested food. When she went on a hunger strike, she was force-fed three times a day through a tube in her throat. But she persevered. Eventually she was pardoned by the president, who later supported the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.

With something to think about, this is Ms. Taylor. Make it a great day… or not. The choice is yours.

In America, we have the privilege of voting for our president, senators, congressional representatives, governors, and other elected officials.

Decide now that when you are old enough, you will honor those who suffered and died so you can make your vote count for something.

In the meantime, this week you will have the opportunity to vote for the students who will represent you on the Student Government. Before voting, take the time to learn about who they are and the leadership role they will have in our school.

Learning Goal:Students will understand their privilege and their responsibility to participate in our democratic system by exercising their right to vote when they come of age.

What character traits were required of Dr. Alice Paul when she struggled for a

woman’s right to vote?

Do you think most people standing in line to vote are thinking about those who suffered and died so their vote could count for something? Why or why not?

Whole Group Discussion (Teacher can record students’ answers on white board )

• Do you believe that voting is a privilege? A priority? Why or why not?

How has our right to vote changed prison conditions? Impacted human rights nationally?

Globally?

Think-Pair-Share

Staying on Task : Vocabulary (Students in small groups discuss the meaning of these key words in context of lesson. Teachers monitor discussions to clarify misconceptions )

Indestructible- incapable of being destroyed

Paraphrase- write in your own words

Righteous- just, blameless, upright

Servants- one who is devoted to something and works for it

Thomas Dorr was an early American who fought for the right of the poor to vote. Like Dr. Alice Paul, he, too, was imprisoned. He was released after two years and then

dropped out of public life. But the cause he fought for was indestructible, and eventually all Americans were able to vote whether they owned property or not.

Paraphrase his quote below. "The servants of a righteous cause may fail . . . but

all the truth that it contains is indestructible." Thomas Dorr

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Student Written Short Response/Reflections

Read the quote below. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

"American youth attribute much more importance to arriving at driver’s license age, than at voting age."

Marshall McLuhan

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Student Written Short Response/Reflections

Our right to vote was established and has been maintained by many heroic individuals. It’s a right we shouldn’t take for granted because the right to vote defines our democracy.

It takes the active participation of good, caring, and thinking individuals to maintain our way of life and the benefits we enjoy as citizens of a free society. That’s what voting is all about.

Closing Comments