Open to all D.C. Public and Public Charter schools students in grades 5 - 12, the contest asks the students to use critical thinking and to express themselves in their entries. The question the theme poses asks the students to consider the broad concept of democracy as it applies to their own lives. The idea is to engage middle- and high-school students, teachers, principals, parents, the libraries and the D.C. community to celebrate students' ideas, self-expression and writing skills and also to raise awareness of the important theme of self-determination.
The winner in each age group will receive a $1,000 prize and the school will rewarded with professional development opportunities for teachers.
For more information, visit the D.C. Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative's website at http://www.dcahec.com