Throughout Fall 2020, high school students in Rachel Murat’s AP Government and Politics class at Maine-Endwell High School used the ‘Let’s Talk About Election 2020‘, a national youth media challenge, as a framework to develop their own commentaries. This challenge is a free, standards-aligned program on KQED Learn, co-hosted by the National Writing Project and PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs.
"I believe very strongly that students need to develop their voice and understand that they make a difference. Providing a very easy way for them to do that was a natural fit in our class. As the largest generation who are just entering the electorate, it's important that we develop their skills of speaking up and understanding they are our future." -Mrs. Rachel Murat, Teacher
M-E students focused on issues of importance to them – a sampling of just a few of these topics includes climate change, Title IX, school shootings, COVID-19. WSKG was pleased to collaborate with Mrs. Murat and her students to share their perspectives.
Listen, read, or watch the student commentaries:
Catherine C. | Healthcare in the United States
Madison G. | State of Reproductive Rights
[video width="960" height="540" mp4="https://wskg.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/MadisonG2.mp4"][/video]
Justin K. | Transphobia in the U.S
[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://wskg.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/JustinK.mp4"][/video]
Allison K. | Climate Change/Pollution
Kate L. | Death Penalty
[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://wskg.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/KateL.mp4"][/video]
Jackson M. | U.S. Prisons
[video width="3840" height="2160" mp4="https://wskg.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/JacksonM.mp4"][/video]
Annabella R.| School Shootings
Owen S. | COVID-19
Angelina S. | College Tuition
Sarah S. | Diversity
Strati A., Payton B., Nikolett B., Emma B., Catherine C., Kaela H., Mia H., Emma R., Bryce S. | Excerpts/Highlights
[video width="1080" height="1080" mp4="https://wskg.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/MEgroup.mp4"][/video]