With a new school year upon us, the ACLU of Maine is eager to begin our work educating students about the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. Last year we reached 41 schools in all 16 counties, with more than 1,650 students taking part in our workshops. We’re hoping to top that this year, and as we’ve done in the past we’ll be kicking things off with a series of Bill of Rights Student Conferences this fall.
The conferences are a unique opportunity for high school students to immerse themselves in the Bill of Rights for a whole day. With three separate workshop sessions, students are able to explore many different civil liberties topics through interactive lessons led by ACLU of Maine staff and partnering attorneys. We put a special focus on issues directly affecting young people, so this year we’ll be talking about subjects like cell phone privacy, free speech at school, and Maine’s new anti-bullying law.
Our conferences are entirely free – with lunch provided – and are open to all high school students and educators. This year’s dates are as follows:
Portland: October 21st
Farmington: October 30th
Belfast: November 13th
If you are interested in attending or would like to learn more, contact me at 774-5444 or jgaither@aclumaine.org. I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have or sign you up for a spot.
