Fairfax High School (VA) Contact: Dr. Linda Karen Miller, American Government teacher Fairfax High School 503 Brethour Court Sterling, VA 20164 E-mail: Lindy@aol.com Activity Summary: Law Day: Celebrating Freedom: Democracy and Diversity was observed at Fairfax High School with a variety of adult speakers and student panels and awards. Fifty-nine students were presented with “We the People” Constitutional achievement awards and several students were presented with photography awards for their images of freedom photos. State and local officials were present along with speakers from the community. Reflections on the Civil Rights movement were accompanied by student skits. Foreign born students explained what freedom meant to them. Parents were also invited for the awards ceremony. Activity Narrative: The Law Day at Fairfax High School focused on the theme "Celebrate Your Freedom: Speak Up for Democracy and Diversity" as students listened to seminars covering topics such as the Civil Rights movement, women's suffrage and why foreign students came to the United States so that they could celebrate freedom. Students who studied the "We the People" Constitutional program came to a deeper understanding of our rule of law, as fifty-nine students were awarded achievement certificates. The event began with the presentation of awards by Dr. Linda Miller and Sen. Leslie Byne. Mayor John Mason and photography teacher Mrs. Trudi Arnold presented images of freedom photography awards. State Delegate Jack Rust also spoke. The next presentations focused on personal reflections of the Civil Rights movement by Jean Jones. She also sang songs of the movement. Students participated in a skit about the Brown vs. the Board of Education case. James Dyke, an attorney, also presented the historical background of the case and gave the constitutional implications. Haywood Torrence gave a presentation on Virginia's resistance to the Brown case. Paula Felt, from the Sewall Belmont house, museum of the National Women's Party, discussed the women's suffrage movement. The final presentation was a panel discussion which reflected the diversity in our classroom as the ESL coordinator led a discussion with foreign born students on why they came to the United States and comparisons of the schools. Fourteen hundred students heard the presentations. The media impact included three news articles: in the school newspaper, the Fairfax Connection and the Fairfax Times community papers. The partnerships that were formed including the ongoing support of the Close-Up Foundation with a mini-grant and the support of local agencies such as the Sewall Belmont House, community lawyers in providing speakers, and federal, state and local governments providing support. Sample Programs Home | By Audience | By Location | By Sponsoring Organization