You cannot legislate the weather. So what is a Sunshine Law?
League of Women Voters Sunshine pamphlet | Sunshine in Government Initiative
Conduct a survey of your class. Do you think the sunshine laws in your state are adequate to assure good government?
What are the sunshine laws in your state?
Choose a level of government in your state.
How does your government provide information to citizens?
Is this method timely?
Is it widely available?
Does it allow for public oversight?
What consequence does the current status of this issue, in your state, have for the common citizen?
How does your School Board measure up against the issue of sunshine in government?
Food for thought - How does your student council measure up regarding the issues of sunshine in government?
Action: Your America: Take action resources
Write a letter regarding this issue to an individual that represents you in state government.
Tell them how you feel about sunshine laws and what you believe should be done about it. Endeavor to cite specific examples. Alternatively, you can write to someone who represents you at the local level urging them to be more open.
Your challenges include: finding their office address, using the correct salutation including title, as well as, following appropriate business letter writing format.
*Many elected officials have an email form/link in their web site. It is reasonable to use this, in lieu of paper and postage, but format and style expectations remain the same. Write the letter in word processing. Edit it as needed. Then copy .. paste it into the email form. Some have a maximum character limit to emails. If that is the case, write the formal letter. Then drop the address heading and date from the email.
Or
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper advocating your point of view.
Or
Take steps to advocate for Sunshine principles to be implemented in your Student Council.
"At a time when citizens are feeling increasingly unhappy and alienated from their government,
it's especially important to remind them about the open records laws
that enable them to find out what their government is doing," Cindy Stiff, professor Florida A&M University
Resources:
Could a letter really make a difference?
Look into the story of Sarah Josepha Hale. Her letter writing campaign is important to us every November.
Or consider the advocacies of Anna Jarvis and Rachel Carson. Picking Letters, 10 a Day, That Reach Obama
"Behold
the turtle for he does not move forward without sticking out his neck."
PBL site / Rubric
template - teacher resource
Problem Based Learning Projects / Internet
Hunts / Nature / Computers / Pennsylvania Projects / Puzzles
& Projects / Site map / Home
developed by Cynthia J. O'Hora Released to public domain and
Posted 1/2007
How to use a Digital Answer Format : Highlight the text of the questions on this web page, copy them - Edit .. Copy. Open a text document or word processing document. Paste the questions into the blank document. Answer the questions in the word processing document in a contrasting color (not yellow) or font (avoid fancy fonts like: , Symbol, or . Save frequently as you work. I do not like losing my work. You will not like it either. Put your name and the date in a header. Submit your work via an electronic class dropbox or email attachment. Bad things happen. Retain a copy of your work on your computer.
Proof your responses. It is funny how speling errors and typeos sneak in to the bets work. Make Your Own Printed answer sheet.
|