William Floyd School District (WFSD) is a statewide leader in teaching government and civics from sixth through high school. Whether it is teaching the basics of how government works, the art of compromise, getting along with people with a different POV, or learning about media bias – WFSD is getting it done.
The South Shore Press spoke to Louis Zederbaum, District Chairman of the Social Studies Department, about how WFSD approaches engaging students in civics, critical thinking, and community awareness/involvement.
SSP: Talk a little bit about how times have changed with the Internet being such a force for young people. How is WFSD approaching civics and government in the social media age?
Zederbaum: We were a pilot school in New York State's recent civic readiness field test, which was put in place after the pandemic. Students need to understand the need for civic engagement. Everything became so test-centered and book-centered that they forgot about the idea of being engaged citizens and being a part of the community in person—with their own voice.
SSP: What is the Seal of Civic Readiness?
Zederbaum: Students earn the Seal of Civic Readiness by participating in a community-based project. They look around at their community for something that might need changing and create a civic action plan. They find out who their local committee leaders are, maybe they go to a town board meeting, or do a letter campaign to bring attention to their issue
Whether it's a nagging pothole or a needed STOP sign – they have initiated some changes.
SSP: Are the students surprised when the adults listen to their concerns?
Zederbaum: The kids don't realize how much of a voice they have. As seniors, they are the new voters, and their voice matters. If they know who their elected officials are, if they know the process to enact their change, they learn they can get these things done
Even before we had the Seal of Civic Readiness, across the street from us at the Aquatic Center there's a skate park that is there because kids lobbied on their own and went to the town to get that park built. I tell the kids you can get change - you can get things that you feel that the community needs, but you have to put your voices out there. You need to know how to go through the steps. You can't just stand on the sidelines and yell about something. Do something about it.
SSP: How many students in WFSD participate in this program?
Zederbaum: Our first pilot had over 400 students earn the Seal. It's throughout the entire state now, but Floyd was one of two schools on Long Island to pilot it before everybody else. Pretty consistently we've had well over 350 since that pilot every year gain the seal
SSP: What kind of feedback do you get from the students?
Zederbaum: When they look at politics or government they see it polarized the same as adults do. Most of their information comes from TikTok and other social media. Most of these kids are non-confrontational. They're very happy to put their headphones in and you know go about on their way. They don't want to be thrust into the middle of political debates.
But, some kids are really passionate. They want to you know improve this and that. They want to put a crosswalk someplace or they want to make sure that there's a rehab center. Some kids really take that ball and look to be community leaders who will make the changes for the future.
With our Participation in Government class, the teachers lead them on whom they need to contact for a letter campaign or on how to make their own TikTok and try to get it to Panico or some other elected official.
In the end, Zederbaum said, “We're hoping by the time that they leave us at WFSD that we've turned them into informed citizens who care about their community. That's the end game here. Sometimes the test doesn't matter. It's about them being able to be productive people – making our society a better place and I'm hoping that we're doing that.”