Civic Spirit Day: Pre-Reading

Dear Civic Spirit Participants,

Below you will find three articles on the nature and responsibilities of citizenship in a democracy. As you read them, think carefully about how you would define the term “citizen”.

  • What does it mean to live in a society that is designed to be governed by the people?
  • How do you plan to prepare for inheriting the right to vote and holding the important role of citizen or member of society?

MUST READS FOR CIVIC SPIRIT DAY

Click on a resource for a downloadable, printable version of the text.

  • Aristotle — Writings from Politics, Book III (Written 350 B.C.E.)
  • Theodore Roosevelt — Excerpts from his speech, “Citizenship in a Republic”, The Man in the Arena (Sorbonne, Paris on April 23, 1910)
  • Danielle AllenTalking to Strangers: Anxieties of Citizenship since Brown v. Board of Education (2004).
  • Student Code of Conduct — All students are expected to review and sign this agreement regarding their participation at Civic Spirit Day.

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