E-News
Nassau
Write
On, Kids!
And
Talk, Paint, Construct and Wax Poetic too.
Considering
that – just like in Lake Wobegon – all the kids in Nassau are above average,
not to mention talented in a variety of ways, the Nassau Chapter has decided to
expand our annual student essay contest to include entries in the form of
artwork, poetry and the spoken word as well as the usual essay.
This
year, we are asking children in grades 9 through 12 to interpret the following
aphorism by Clarence Darrow as it relates to Civil Liberties:
“You
can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's
freedom.”
Hint:
The theme might be interpreted by looking into the condition of women,
minorities, the LGBT community,
immigrants, students, prisoners or people with disabilities.
The contest is
open to Nassau students in grades 7 through 12. Given the huge prize money ($100
for the 7th and 8th grade competitors, $300 for the older
age group) we expect some spectacular admissions. Contact the Nassau office (516
741-8520) for complete information.
The contest is co-sponsored
by: Hofstra New Teachers Network, Hofstra School of Education and Allied
Human Services, League of Women Voters, Long Island Council for the Social
Studies, Long Island Coalition Against Censorship, Long Island Language Arts
Council, Long Island School Media Association
Banned
in the USA
Regarding
Banned Books week, Nassau Director Tara Keenan-Thomson is presenting a talk on
the history of book banning and censorship in America, highlighting the Supreme
Court case on school censorship that originated right here in Nassau.
Come on out to the
Freeport Library, Thursday, November 1 at 2:30 p.m. You’ll be surprised to
learn about what you weren’t allowed to read.
Don’t
wait for ‘08
In October the
Nassau Chapter led a lobby training session for local members and we met with
Congressional Representatives Carolyn McCarthy and Gary Ackerman. At our
meetings we urged them not to wait for ’08 to lead the fight to restore Habeas
Corpus (the right of those arrested to know the charges against them) and to fix
the Military Commissions Act. We urged them to to stand up against
any FISA gutting legislation that includes letting the telecom companies
off-the-hook for handing over customer records without a warrant. We
asked them to change the legislation to require individual warrants before the
government is allowed to access call information from Americans on American
soil. If you would like to join our Legislative Action Team
for future meetings with lawmakers, contact the office at 741-8520.
Port
Washington North update: The Halloween Curfew
Thanks to some
tenacious students, the Port Washington North curfew has been lifted… for the
time being. It was a Pyrrhic victory for the group; while the curfew
limiting anyone under 19 from being outside after 7 p.m. on Oct. 30 and 31 was
unanimously repealed, it takes effect November 1. And the village has
indicated it is exploring the idea of rewriting the curfew to withstand a
constitutional test in the courts. An imaginative trick instead of a treat
this year. Stay tuned.
