Civic Responsibility

Active participation in democracy is essential to Expeditionary School at Black River, where students will partner with adults in the community to shape school policy and curriculum. They will exercise their voices and values, through opportunities for Personal Action, participation in student and community government, town hall-style school meetings, and more.

What that means to us:

• Expeditionary School at Black River will hold Town Hall meetings and expose students to local, state, federal and global laws and regulatory process.

• The school will encourage student engagement in school and local government, teaching them about regulatory and procedural processes, such as Robert’s Rules.

• With regard to discipline, responsibility and accountability, the school will teach students how to be active and compassionate participants in the judicial system.

What that means for students:

• Our students will practice both leadership and democratic participation during their time at Black River Independent School, they will emerge not only with an academic understanding of American history and government but with a living experience of meaningful democratic participation.

• Students’ decisions will count in our school and this community; their input will be not just window dressing or practice, but will affect real and systematic change and will uphold our values and mission.