Kathleen Frick with members of the NH Alliance for Civic Engagement.

NHACE Presents Award for “Excellence in Civic Engagement” at the NH “Ed”ies

The Excellence in Civic Engagement Awards honors best practices in teaching civic engagement at the elementary, middle school, high school and collegiate levels.  Winners are selected on the basis of innovation and effectiveness in preparing young people for active citizenship.

The first “Ed”ie for Excellence in Civic Engagement at the elementary level honored Kathleen Frick of Wells Memorial School (Harrisville).  Ms. Frick listened last September when a student asked a simple question, “What is the New Hampshire state fruit?”  It turned out that there wasn’t one.  In that question, though, Ms. Frick heard much more. What she heard was an opportunity to lead her class in an intense, year-long engagement with the democratic process that would embrace virtually every aspect of the curriculum, including social studies, science, health, language arts, fine arts, and technology.  What began with research and the development of a proposal ended May 6, 2006, when the governor signed into law the pumpkin as the state fruit. 
Kathleen Frick recognized an unparalleled teaching moment and seized it with unerring innovation. The effectiveness of her approach is unquestionable: 15 young people with an introduction to civic engagement and a commitment to the health of our democracy that will undoubtedly leave a lifetime impression.

Congratulations Ms. Frick and the first and second graders at Wells Memorial School!