News
NEW! 17th Annual First Freedom National Student Essay Competition
The First Freedom Center announces the 17th annual First Freedom Student Competition. This national essay contest offers 9th - 12th grade students an opportunity to compete for a $3,000, $1,500 and $750 award, as they examine the history and implementation of religious freedom-the freedom of conscience-in American democracy and the world today. This year the competition is going global, as the topic asks students to write about international religious freedom. Students will be introduced to Article 18 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Eleanor Roosevelt, and the place of religious liberty in U.S. history and foreign policy. Their task will challenge their analytic writing skills and require them to assess current-day events in terms of international human rights and history. For further information, see First Freedom Student Competition at www.firstfreedom.org 
GeoFest 2009
The New York Geographic Alliance is sponsoring its GeoFest 2009 for K- 16 teachers on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at the New York State Museum, Albany New York. Sessions will focus on New York State’s waterways in relationship to the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson and Samuel de Champlain. Advance registration is $20. which includes a continental breakfast and a buffet luncheon. Pre-teachers and other college students only pay $15 for advance registration. (For those who pay at the door, the fee will be $25 teachers/ $20 pre-teachers. You can register online from the NYGA website in the Upcoming events section: http://www.nygeographicalliance.org/
In-service Credit is available for those attending. The Alliance will issue a certificate of attendance.
Register Now for the Law Youth & Citizenship (LYC) 2009 Conference
LYC has announced its 33rd annual law-related and civic education conference in Lake George on Oct. 15-16, 2009. This year's theme addresses such themes as the New World Order; including such topics as environmental issues, financial literacy, economic topics and equality. Issues, including (but not limited) global warming, the economics, the impact of envonrmental changes, historic economic events, civid engagement, immegration, and participatory govnerment. The Conference fee is $90 that includes all meals, a cruise on Lake George, registration for all five sessions (20 workshops scheduled) and materials. To access a listing of workshops and the application, visit www.lycny.org
NYSED Seeking Applicants for the William Randolph Hearst Foundation United States Senate Youth Program
The William Randolph Hearst Foundation sponsors an annual scholarship for two student leaders from each state and the District of Columbia to visit Washington, D. C. (all expenses paid), as guest of the Hearst Foundation and a $5,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies at an accredited United States university or college. During the visit to Washington, D.C., students engage in a series of seminars and briefings with Senators and members of the House of Representatives and meet with officials from the executive and judicial branches of government. The NYSED is seeking applicants. A full description of the program, application form and important dates can be downloaded at: http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/social/
senateyouth_2009_10.html
Congratulations to New York State’s United States Senate Youth 2009 delegates Erica Pincus of Long Island Lutheran High School, Brookville, NY and Charlotte Saul of Orchard Park High School, Orchard Park, NY.
Our Courts: 21st Century Civics
Our Courts is a free, interactive, web-based program designed to teach students civics and inspire them to be active participants in our democracy. Our Courts is the vision of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Justice O’Connor, in partnership with Georgetown Law and Arizona State University, has recruited experts in education, law, history, and technology to craft a program that teaches usable and engaging civics. On this site, you will find information and useful teaching resources for an engaging civics curriculum. http://www.ourcourts.org/about-our-courts
2009 Louis E. Yavner Awards Information
The Board of Regents invites nominations for the 2009 Louis E. Yavner Teaching and Citizen Awards. these awards provide recognition of a teacher and citizen who have made outstanding contributions to New York State Education about the Holocaust and other violations of human rights. The awards were established by thee Regents and funded by the late Regent Emeritus Louis E. Yavner. State Education Department staff are not eligible for these awards.
Complete information including nomination forms are available at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/yavner.html . The deadline for submission of nominations is Friday January 29, 2010.
The NYSED Champlain/Hudson/Fulton Commemoration Online Resource
The Curriculum, Instruction and Instructional Technology Team has posted a Champlain/Hudson/Fulton Commemorations Online Resource at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/chf/chf.html to help local school districts celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Samuel de Champlain and Henry Hudson explorations, and the 200th anniversary of the launching of Robert Fulton’s steamboat, Clermont.
This online resource includes 10 standards-based, interdisciplinary elementary, middle and commencement level instructional modules, and 3 scholarly overviews that focus on the broad themes of encounter, trade and commerce. It also provides Strategies for Using the Champlain, Hudson, Fulton Online Resource that was designed to help local school districts infuse the modules into their local instructional programs.