This year, Highland High School Social Studies Chair Christina Saylor has been teaching the Civic Readiness Program. She said this new class is an academic honor that students can earn from projects they initiate and have the Seal of Civic Readiness placed on their diploma when they graduate.

The New York State Department of Education website states that, “Civic Readiness is the ability to make a positive difference in the public life of our communities through a combination of civic knowledge, skills, action, mindsets and experiences.” The website goes on to note that civic education “facilitates the development of civic competencies and is needed for a democratic society to flourish. Through civic education, students learn how to identify and address problems in their town or school communities. Students also learn how to demonstrate respect for the rights of others, respectfully disagree with other viewpoints, and provide evidence for a counterargument. Civic education can strengthen the relationships of schools and students with parents, families, civic leaders, organizations and community partners.”

For her project, high school senior Adrianna Youngren invited the community to a Painting Workshop at the American Legion Hall on Grand Street last Friday evening to paint tiles that she will place in the girls bathrooms and later in the boys bathrooms at the high school. She said the aim of her project, “is to make them look cleaner because people like pretty spaces better; so if it looks nicer people will treat it nicer. It’s also a way to have the community come together.” She said each participant painted what they wanted on the tiles.

Adrianna said she is working with the district’s Director of Operations and Maintenance Peter Miller and is hoping to see the tiles go up in the next few months.

Adrianna loves the Civic Readiness class.

“I think it’s a way for all of us to get experience helping other people and overall, I think it’s a really good class,” she said.

Christina Saylor said New York State offers the Seal of Civic Readiness, “and one way to earn it is to do a Capstone Project where students during the school year have to put in 40 hours of work to solve a problem they see in the community or to strengthen an asset.”

Saylor said her students have come up with a variety of projects that are currently underway: a dispenser placed for easy access for feminine hygiene products, organizing a clothing giveaway and establishing a food drive. One student is bringing attention to the disparity of mental health services that are provided to high and low income neighborhoods and the way people are treated in mental health hospitals, along with the funding structures.

Saylor said her students often suggest ideas for their projects, “and it’s kind of an exciting place for students to take leadership on like that.”

American Legion hall manager Jerry Wimberly said having this painting event here is a way to give back to his Alma Mater, class of 1990.

“When they called, I said you guys come in. It’s about community service and involvement and this event touches my heart to see that the tiles will go in the bathrooms,” he said.