By ANTHONY BOTTAN
Sixteen South students, divided into three groups, participated in Project Citizen, a program that "promotes competent and responsible participation in local and state government, and helps them learn how to monitor and influence public policy." The 16 students conducted research on three problems they felt affect the community, then presented their research along with an action plan of possible solutions. The purpose of the presentation was to teach students to present and defend reasoned opinions related to influencing public policy decision-making in their communities.
"Today is a learning experience," said Dr. Marc Bernstein, superintendent of the Central High School District. "Take this day and remember it."
The first group, comprised of Amelia Van Sertima, Bob Briksza Amanda Torres, Christ Faust and Nnamde Nwaigwe, concentrated on the pollution in Hook Creek. The students showed a video of how garbage left at the creek hurts marine wildlife and takes a significant toll on the environment.
The students vowed, with the help of the school, to add plants, benches and garbage cans at Hook Creek, as well as ask Town of Hempstead officials to install "No Littering" signs by the waterway. They also hope to garner help from the Mill Brook Civic Association and Home Depot to assist in the re-beautification of the polluted creek. "This is a great service project," Town Supervisor Kate Murray said.
The second group of seventh graders -- Rebekah Olson, Dipana Jain, Eduardo Martinez and Jeanne Powell -- focused on the No Child Left Behind federal education mandate. "We're for it, but there has to be a better way to go about it," Martinez said.
The group's research uncovered that testing throughout the country costs about $400 million per year, and said they felt that test scores are not the most accurate means of assessing students' progress. "It's an unnecessary amount of pressure put on a kid," Olson said.
The students suggested spreading out testing over the entire school year, developing alternative means of testing, and trying to alter curriculums, so that it is not entirely centered around teaching for state tests.
The final group to present, featuring students Marah Jolibois, Andrew Rozon, Jessica Moore, Brandon Rivero, Valentino Gonzalez, Janine Sicwaten and Matt English, conducted their research on recycling at school.
"Recycling is the most economic way to help the Earth," Moore said.
The group's slogan for their project was, "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle." Their research revealed that students, as well as teachers, waste too much paper. Teachers, they said, should try to print on both sides of the paper, and students should recycle hand-outs, rather than throwing them in trash cans with other garbage. Their solutions to the school's recycling woes were to create a public awareness program, create fines for students who carelessly discard of trash and put recycling bins in classrooms.
