Colonel Wright Elementary Students Write Letters to the Editor
Fourth and fifth graders from Colonel Wright Elementary School have undertaken a unique classroom project to practice their English and their persuasive writing skills.
By Cole Goodwin
The Dalles, Ore., February 27, 2024 – This week Courtney Middleton, an English Language Development (ELD) teacher at Colonel Wright Elementary School in The Dalles, Oregon assigned her 4th and 5th-grade students the task of writing persuasive letters on topics impacting today's youth.
"This activity was designed to make my students' learning meaningful to them personally, not just an assignment because a teacher said so," Middleton explained.
“I noticed that many students are great at arguing verbally, so I decided to have them write about an issue that is important to them and try to persuade me to their side.”
Through pre-writing discussions, students debated their chosen issues, showcasing the development of critical thinking skills.
“I was very proud of them because as a pre-writing activity, we had classroom discussions about each issue to name some of the examples from the other side of their point of view, and they were able to hear those examples, and some stood firm in their original positions, but others were able to take the opposition's examples and change their point of view, which I think is a great example of developing critical thinkers!” she added.
Middleton emphasized her pride in her bilingual students' ability to write these letters..
“All of these students are bilingual and although my program focuses on developing their English skills, they are also encouraged to practice their home language just as much,” she said. "These students are our future leaders, and I am so proud of them for their bilingualism and perseverance.”
Out of 20 participating students, five letters were selected for special recognition, touching on subjects from animal testing and cell phone usage at school to social media, homework, and junk food in educational settings.
One 5th grader, DG (names have been redacted to protect kids identity) spoke out against animal testing saying:
“There are many issues facing students today. I will argue that animal testing should not be allowed because it can hurt animals. Animals don’t have a choice in being tested. Maybe testing on animals is not always a choice.
One reason is because the medicine can hurt them. Results are not always correct. It is unfair to put an animal in a cage.
The medicine can hurt animals and they’re meant for humans.
In conclusion, animal testing should not be allowed.”
LR argued for the responsible use of cell phones by older students at school, citing communication with family and educational apps as key benefits.
“There are many issues facing students today. I will argue that students should be allowed to have their cell phone at school.
Yes, students should be allowed to have their phones at school, so they can call their mom and dad or their brother and sister. Also, so they can use the apps that help them with math stuff. I think students should have the phones in their backpacks and not in their desks, so they don’t use the phones to make tik toks.
Anyways I think that it is okay for 4th and 5th graders to have them because they are older, but 3rd 2nd are not okay because they are not older they are younger. Some of the older kids can also do some mean stuff to the younger ones, they are older so they won't do it. But I think the older one can have the phones because they are much older.
I don’t see why the younger kids should have the phones because they are becoming some of the ‘’older’’ kids but they are just some younger kids but it is the moms and dads ideas because they are saying ‘’yes you can have your phone”.
In conclusion, I think students in 4th and 5th grade should be allowed to have their phones at school as long as they keep them put away.”
JL defended social media and online gaming platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Fortnite as educational tools rather than mere distractions.
“There are many issues facing students today. I will argue that no social media websites do not cause more harm than good. You can learn stuff on Youtube, you can share on Instagram, and you can learn how to build on Fortnite.
YouTube is good because you can learn how to make paper airplanes. I can post videos on Instagram so people can share their stories. Fortnite might help you later in your life so you can build towers.
These are the reasons why social media is good.”
VO made a case for abolishing homework in the name of school/life balance.
“There are many issues facing students today. I will argue that yes homework should be eliminated because you can have more time to play games and almost of all because you don't have to do it so your hands don't hurt while doing homework.
One reason homework should be eliminated is because you're not bored doing homework like always. So homework should be eliminated because your hands don't hurt and so you can play games. This shows that homework should be eliminated so you can watch tv, games, or go on social media.
Another reason that homework should be eliminated is because you can do stuff like play outside. And watch tv, and play games, and social media “homework should actually be eliminated so kids wont get bored of homework” This helps prove that homework should be eliminated because kids don't like homework.
The most important reason homework should be eliminated is because you can have more time to play games and watch social media “homework should be eliminated because kids don't know how to do homework”. Because of this, kids get really tired of homework and their hands hurt while doing homework
Yes homework should be eliminated so you can watch social media. Students that don't like homework just play games, and go on social media.”
KM, a 4th grader contended that schools should not ban junk food, arguing for the right to personal choice in dietary decisions.
“There are many issues in our lives. Today I will argue that schools should not ban junk food because some people want junk food.
One reason some people want junk food is they want nuggets. Another reason people want junk food is they don’t want healthy food.
The most important reason is some people don’t want healthy food because they don’t like a type of vegetable.
As you can see, schools should not ban junk food.”
Middleton encouraged the community to respond with their own letters to the editor.
“I am hoping that once these letters get published that maybe they will read some responses to their letters, both in agreement and also in opposition, so we can continue the conversation about how to engage in respectful disagreements in our community,” said Middleton.
Letters to the Editor should be emailed to News@cccnews.com
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