Purdue News
Purdue NewsParticipants in the third summer institute organized by the James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship are from California, Hawaii, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. The Indiana teachers participating are Brian Fultz of Lafayette , Leila Meyerratken of West Lafayette , Alan Selge of Knox, Karen Sosbe of Kokomo, and Mary Lee Webeck of West Lafayette .
Upon completion of the institute, participants will have a custom-made program for teaching citizenship in their schools, plus a $250 grant to help them get started.
During the institute, the teachers will attend seminars conducted by leaders in citizenship education, perform community service, and attend a reception with representatives from community social service agencies to discuss the service needs of the agencies.
Participants in the institute will return to Purdue for four days next April to report on the projects they implemented at their schools and to work with Purdue education students.
The Ackerman Center in Purdue's School of Education was created in 1994 with a $2 million gift from James Ackerman, an Indianapolis cable television executive, and his wife, Lois.
According to Director Lynn R. Nelson, all programs offered by the center are based on the belief that American democracy will survive only if each new generation embraces the core democratic values of individual rights, the common good, justice, equality of opportunity, diversity, truth and patriotism.
In addition to the summer institutes for teachers, the center sponsors workshops and
civic education projects for teachers and students, develops curricula, and serves
as a national resource center for citizenship-education materials.
CONTACT: Nelson, (765) 494-4755; e-mail, lrnelson@omni.cc.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
