BRI Welcomes International Teachers to Talk Civic Engagement
<p>They may come from different nations, with different languages and cultures, separated by thousands of miles. </p>
<p>But when it comes to their students, all teachers seem to share a common bond. </p>
<p>They care deeply about their students’ futures and want to ensure their students have the tools to become engaged, productive citizens. </p>
<p>That kindred spirit was on display on November 15 when the Bill of Rights Institute hosted educators from Eastern Europe and Central Asia to discuss civic engagement. </p>
<p>The educators, who were visiting the United States as part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, hailed from the Czech Republic, the Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Montenegro, Poland, Tajikistan, and Ukraine. </p>
<p>“I found teaching in my soul,” said Lucie Kolnikova, a high school teacher from the Secondary School of Industry and Art in the Czech Republic, reflecting on her journey into the education profession. “It’s my passion.” </p>
<p>The educators received an overview of BRI’s curricula and programs from Manager of Communications and Outreach Chris Janson. </p>
<p>They were able to share some of their unique challenges teaching civics and civic engagement during a conversation led by BRI Chief Program Officer Stan Swim. </p>
<p>Many of the educators hail from nations that spent decades under the influence of the former Soviet Union and only became independent democracies within the past 30-35 years. There are often significant generational differences in how civic engagement is viewed in countries where the practice was discouraged for decades. </p>
<p>BRI’s Manager of Civic Engagement Projects Adam Brickley provided some useful pointers by walking educators through BRI’s <a href="http://www.myimpactchallenge.org">MyImpact Challenge</a> and some of the strategies that are incorporated into the program.</p>
<p>MyImpact Challenge is BRI’s national civics contest that encourages students to spearhead constitutionally-principled civic engagement projects in their communities.</p>
<p>Brickley led an exercise that asked educators to reflect on challenges within their communities and to “think small”—to have students start with manageable projects that they can accomplish and that will produce tangible results. </p>
<p>That’s a piece of advice that Kolnikova said she would take home with her to the Czech Republic. </p>
<p>“I will remember that. Start small,” she said. “I want my students to know that they can make a difference and accomplish something they can see.” </p>