Civic Engagement

Student-Led Oral Histories for Local Officials

Civics Education

About this Resource

Civic Engagement exists as part of the current KSDE Kansas Education Systems of Accreditation (KESA) foundational structures, thus all systems need to address civic engagement in a variety of ways. School systems also have the option to apply for Civic Advocacy Network (CAN) recognition awards based on evidence of civic engagement. The KOHP can help in both these areas. Civic Engagement involves both learning in the classroom and service projects in the community. Given that part of civic engagement is educational, the KOHP can be an important tool to teach about different areas of state and local government for a variety of grade levels. There exists the possibility to create oral history projects, with the KOHP as the model, that engage the community. Further, high school students can utilize the KOHP to teach younger students about civic engagement, which itself is a part of civic engagement, an important aspect of CAN requirements.

Civics Education

An editorial in the Topeka Capital Journal stated, “Civics is about so much more than passing a written test…or reciting facts or figures about our country and Constitution. It’s about the spirit of America, about a country that includes Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, men and women, Black people and white people, gay people and straight people, and a few editorial writers besides. Civics, in other words, is about perfecting and pursuing a more perfect union.” https://www.cjonline.com/story/opinion/2021/02/12/civics-more-than-passing-test-its-pursuing-more-perfect-union/6733633002/ What better place to understand how public policy is created than a collection of easily accessible and pertinent primary sources for students Show Moreof all levels. The Kansas Oral History Collection consists of transcripts of oral histories of state legislators, state officials and notable Kansans describing their involvement with public policy in the last quarter of the Twentieth Century and the first decades of the Twenty-first Century. For students it is a treasure trove of information from primary sources. For teachers, there are short clips taken from interviews of actual policy-makers describing what it takes to make laws and policy. More are being added regularly. The Kansas Oral History Project works with the Kansas Department of Education and an advisory group of teachers to develop new materials from its collection of oral histories for use in the classroom. Civic engagement exists as part of the current KSDE accreditation systems, and involves both learning in the classroom and service projects in the community. KOHP is interested working with teachers to create oral history projects that engage the community. For more information use the contact form on this website. By KansasOralHistoryProject|December 29, 2022|Civic Engagement Show Less

Student-Led Oral Histories for Local Officials

TEST - this is a brief description of a new program for doing student-led oral histories of local officials, using KOHP guidelines and school district resources. Classroom decides to study Topeka Water Commissioner Jack Alexander. Gets guidelines from KOHP and reviews the Alexander interview on the website. Develops questions for Commissioner Alexander and arranges a time to interview him. Make video of the interview and recruit high students to edit video. Post video on KOHP website with local officials collections of student-led interviews.

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Student-Led Oral Histories for Local Officials

Civics Education

About this Resource

Civics Education

Student-Led Oral Histories for Local Officials