Join us at an event to center youth voices!
On Wednesday, October 23, young journalists from Teens in Print (TIP) will gather at Roxbury Community College from 4 to 6 PM to moderate a discussion about this election season’s ballot question no. 2: Should we remove the MCAS as a graduation requirement?
This discussion will be held in partnership with 826 Boston and the Boston Debate League (BDL), the latter of which will be hosting the event as part of its Race, Equity, and Policy series.
We are thrilled about this partnership and the upcoming event focused on the MCAS. It is crucial to amplify teen voices on a topic that holds significant weight for Boston’s youth. The MCAS, a test that often unearths inequities, plays a major role in shaping the futures of young people. This event will spotlight the youth perspective, and we hope teens will actively engage and share their views on the test and what changes should be made. As organizations dedicated to serving young people, it’s our responsibility to provide spaces where teens can advocate for themselves alongside key stakeholders in their lives. This event aims to foster understanding, advocacy, and healthy debate.
Mohamed Barrie; Teens in Print Program Director
Growing up in the Boston public school system, MCAS always seemed like a big test that you had to do well on. Although getting rid of MCAS as a graduation requirement invokes a lot of controversy, it brings attention to policies that negatively impact students. The MCAS on the ballot: Public debate and conversation invites people to be a part of the conversation and be more civically involved.
Ketura Joseph; Teens in Print Reporter
The conversation about whether or not to abolish the MCAS as a graduation requirement will be debated by two teams composed of a Boston Debate League student and a teacher, with one team arguing the yes side and the other arguing against the initiative. Each team will also have a policy expert — Will Austin and Jessica Tang, respectively — present for support as needed.
In addition, TiP reporters, BDL, and 826 Boston students will facilitate community round table discussions among present attendees to hear more perspectives on the issues from peers, teachers, and Boston residents on the ballot question. We hope this creates both an engaging debate and a productive conversation with members of the community.
This event is open to the public — RSVP here: https://bit.ly/3Y1eXVA.
