The BILA Wave

By Katelyn Melville

Civic Engagement?

Well, folks, it seems to be that time again – election year. Once every 4 years, we conduct one of the most controversial elections in the United States: the presidential election. Campaigners swarm our neighborhoods and misinformation floods our social media pages, suffocating us with indecision. Overall, it’s a chaotic moment for the country. Still, regardless of the confusion, many citizens vote as their first intentional use of their civic voice. They see it almost as a rite of passage into democracy. 

While voting is certainly an impactful way to participate civically, it’s not the only way to make your voice heard. This is one of the many lessons Mr. Leavitt, a Social Studies Teacher and Civics Week Coordinator at BILA, is trying to teach.

But, before we get into that, a fundamental question must be asked: What is civic engagement, and why is it important? Mr. Leavitt explains that “Civic engagement is knowledge of how government and society works, so everybody in society can be a part of their community and make it better.”

“…you have the right to be [civically engaged] because you should always be hopeful that you could make a change, and not feel helpless about the problems that you see around you because if you don’t do it, either nobody will or someone else is going to do it for you.”

The State of Civics 

According to the Center for American Progress, “only nine states and the District of Columbia require one year of U.S. government or civics. Thirty-one states only require a half-year of civics or U.S. government education, and 10 states have no civics requirement.”

This statistic is incredibly troubling because we are experiencing a significant political divide and a fake news epidemic.

 Mr. Leavitt gives his explanation for this backslide in civic studies: 

“I think people got complacent in the 19th-20th century and started thinking that since people were doing civic engagement, they knew what it was and would always know, so they stopped prioritizing it in schools. The country also started putting a lot more emphasis on standardized tests, so they moved more towards history classes, and less towards a class like civics which is skill-based, and also I suspect it was a little bit of backlash about the types of protests that people were seeing (Vietnam War, Civil Rights and Feminism), and maybe wanting to say: “if we teach them less about it, we’ll have a more obedient society.”

Super History Heros

One activity introduced to our class was comic books that detailed the lives of important events and historical figures that used their voices to create change. From the story of Dolores Huerta to the history of hip hop, the comics modernize the historical topics that brought us to the point where we are now. If you’re interested, see Mr. Leavitt for copies.

Linked is a list of ways we can use our voices just like these heroes. Whichever way you choose, it is the first step to making change. 

What Can You Do?

Here at BILA, there are various ways that we can use our voices to make change.. BILA isn’t a perfect school, and like everything else, needs improvement. It’s common to have complaints, but it’s less common to see action taken.That’s because we are not using our voice. We can write letters, create petitions, and even contact the BILA Wave when you feel that there’s an issue that needs attention. As a school, we are a community, and a community can only help one another if we are willing. 

“Everything that’s ever happened started with one person having an idea, and I think the class is just about empowering you to figure out how to turn that idea into a reality and make it go from one person thinking it’s a good idea to two, to four, to eight; it can grow exponentially, and you could really change the whole country, ” explains Mr. Leavitt.

Take Swedish activist Greta Thunburg for example, who’s become an internationally known environmentalist who began using her voice when she was in highschool. She organized a climate strike that stormed twitter and gained national attention, leading her to accomplishments such as speaking at the United Nations Climate Action Summit at just 16 years old. 

A more local example happened at BILA from the graduating class of 2021. When they were informed of the company chosen to take their senior photos, they did not agree with the choice. Instead of being inactive, they created a petition and wrote a letter to administration, asking them to change the photography company to one of their choosing – and they did. 

These examples are not scarce. There are thousands of examples of students and young people creating change not just in classrooms but everywhere worldwide. Civic engagement is not purely political. It is about making change on a global level, and with the courage to use our voice, that change can start with us.

Our Generation

With Mr. Leavitt’s efforts, BILA will surely become home to an active community of changemakers. As we come into young adulthood, it’s imperative that we continue to educate ourselves and advocate for what we think is most important to fulfill our civic responsibility. 

Final words from Mr. Leavitt:

“The most important thing for me is that your generation feels hopeful and optimistic about your ability to create change. I think that there’s so much negativity and a lot of criticism, and it’s well deserved, and things like that, but I think people underestimate how powerful they can be when they work together. Also, often, people do take for granted the rights, responsibilities, and privileges we have in the U.S. to speak our minds, think freely, voice our opinions, and try to convince other people that their right and point out problems. It’s something that everyone should value and take advantage of.”