Instruction surges among students in Civics class during Trump's Presidency, revealing a heightened interest in politics.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is hosting a weeklong National Advocacy Institute for high school students in July 2022. The program, which has seen unprecedented interest since President Donald Trump's return to the White House, aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to advocate for civil rights and resist conservative agendas.
The ACLU program focuses on discussions of presidential power, immigration, racial justice, transgender rights, and other contentious issues. Students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam are participating, representing a diverse range of backgrounds and interests, including private schools, public schools, classical schools, and homeschools.
Transgender rights were a major focus of the ACLU conference, with students learning detailed information about transgender cases and legislative bills. Kaz, a transgender male from northern Virginia, felt energized by the information learned, while Kaz and Ashley, a transgender female student also from Virginia, are planning to use their new knowledge and organizing skills when they return to their communities and a new school year.
Jack Waide, a rising 11th grader from Boston, seeks to learn how to teach immigrants in his community their rights. Carver Oppong, a rising 12th grader from Los Angeles, expressed concern about the recent immigration focus by the Trump administration in his hometown. Anu Joshi, the ACLU's national campaign director for immigration, discussed the Trump administration's immigration crackdown and named officials like Tom Homan, Kristi Noem, and Stephen Miller.
The ACLU conference offers hourlong electives on issue-based organizing, digital activism, coalition building, voting rights, and "earned media." Students can also enjoy activities such as monument tours, dorm bull sessions, and looking for 'common ground.' Tuition and fees covering room and board are $2,700 per student, but financial aid and travel stipends are available.
Conversations around politics are reportedly polarized at some private schools, making it difficult for teachers to navigate discussions about issues like race and politics. However, the ACLU program encourages students to find common ground and work together for a common cause.
Meanwhile, conservative advocacy organizations such as Young America's Foundation and the Heritage Foundation are also sponsoring weeklong gatherings in Washington for high school students who lean to the political right. Young America's Foundation held its high school leadership conference in early July for some 150 participants, including former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and conservative author Vince Everett Ellison as speakers. The Heritage Foundation's program introduces students to the principles of the American founding, current public policy issues, and the workings of American government.
The ACLU, a nonpartisan organization, has been active in legal actions against the Trump administration, with over 145 actions taken so far in 2022. The organization has sued 19 presidents who have been in office since its founding in 1920. The ACLU strives for geographic, as well as racial and socioeconomic diversity, for the program.
The ACLU conference is not just about learning, but also about action. Jack Herzke, a rising 11th grader, got involved with advocacy due to concerns about book bans and education censorship in South Carolina. He and others are determined to use their newfound knowledge to make a difference in their communities.
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