PhotoVoice

Big ideas like democracy can be discussed and taught in a number ways, but my guess is that students learn best when they are asked to do something— and learn from their own thoughts, actions, and choices. Our issue guide for 2009-10 Alabama Issues Forums was “Democracy’s Challenge: Reclaiming the Public’s Role.” And since everyone likes a challenge, we decided that at the conclusion of forums with teenagers, we’d pose the following question and ask for a written response: Why do you think citizens are not more active regarding the issues that concern them? Then we passed out disposable cameras and asked them to take a picture of something that represents, illustrates, or was in some way symbolic of their answer. Some students captured easy answers: people are lazy; people are busy; people don’t care. And others dug deeper, reflecting on the unseen role of rural communities in a world dominated by cities. Some told local stories related to issues of concern in their community. All in all, we received back over 50 photos and paragraphs from young folks, and we mocked them up and printed their contributions as 8 x 10 inch windows onto the world of democracy. It’s a big question they had to answer, one we all need to ponder from time to time. Here is a great example from a teenager out of Kinston, Alabama:

- Mark Wilson