C.I.S. 166X

Current estimates suggest that more than 650,000 youths are members of gangs in the United States overall. Membership in anti-social youth gangs has grown rapidly in the intermediate schools in the Bronx. Gang related activities are now happening in our schools, victimizing students and causing problems by disrupting our education.

Did you hear what happened to Paul today? He was beat up because he was wearing the color red. Gang member come to school daily wearing their colors. (Flying their flags). It becomes easy for one gang member to pick out another gang member, or a member of another gang and get into an altercation. (Start a rumble), and proving themselves. (Being down).

Because of this problem, it has been mandated that the students wear uniforms. The students are fighting it and the parents are not being as supportive as they can. It is believed that students wearing uniforms in school can help to reduce and lead to elimination of this problem.

You are a consultant that has been asked to come in and bring your team of experts. You will be doing a public policy analyst of gangs in Bronx public schools

You and your team will work undercover as students who believe it is a good idea to wear school uniforms .It is your job to conduct a public policy analysis, evaluate and suggest this and other strategies that could prevent gang violence within the schools. Gather information that will be informative and persuasive and get them to understand the importance of preventing violence in the schools. A mandatory uniform policy can be among the solutions. You will be exploring the Internet to retrieve information that will make your report to the students accurate and reliable and your solution viable. You have to follow the PPA steps to successfully complete this project. You will have two weeks to accomplish this. (Make them see the light). During that time see to it that you:

v Discuss the nature of this problem.

v Identify possible solutions other than a mandatory uniform policy. (at least 5)

v Specifically define why a school uniform policy is necessary and helpful.

v Gather evidence supporting your solutions. Highlight having a school uniform policy.

v Identify the causes for the need of a mandatory uniform policy in public schools.

v List the benefits of adopting a school uniform policy. (at least 5)

v Discuss other fields where uniforms are mandated and how it affects the wearers. (positively), (at least 10)

v Discuss restrictions (if any).

v Choose two complaints about the possible solutions and negate them. (Let one be about

school uniforms.

Use the following guidelines for the completion of your assignment.

1. Work in teams of six.

2. Identify the role of each member.

3. Read and complete the following:

Define the social problem?

Gathering evidence for this problem.

Identifying causes for this problem.

Evaluating the existing public policy.

Developing public policy solutions.

Selecting the best public policy solution.

4. Work through the WebQuest to: a) gather evidence of the problems. Use PPA worksheet #2. http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/gather.html

b) gather information identifying the cause of the problem. Use PPA worksheet #3

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/identify.html

c) evaluate the existing public policy. Use PPA worksheet #4

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/existing.html

d) adopt a new policy (for school uniforms). Use PPA worksheet#5

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/solutions.html

5. Prepare proof of what has happened in schools because the uniform policy was not mandated.

6. Compile a list of other fields where uniforms are used.

7. Write a persuasive essay on your position and submit it.

8. Prepare visual aids &/or handouts to support your work.

9. Make an oral presentation to persuade the students to comply.

1. http://www./bus.k12.ca.us/uniform.htm

2. http://www.aclu.org/congress/uniform.htmi

3. http://www.ed.gov/updates/uniforms.html

4. http://www.ask.com

5. http://www.waveamerica.com/school/sdiscussionguide.htm

Criteria

Points

	4	3	2	1
Introduction	All questions were answered completely and rationales for the answers were clearly stated.	All questions were answered completely, but rationales for the all the answers were not clearly stated.	Not all questions were answered completely, or greater than 2 rationales for the all answers were not clearly stated.	All questions were not answered completely.	____
Task	All areas of the task were addressed and handled with a high degree of sophistication. The plan followed by the team demonstrated a great deal of thought.	At least one area of the task was not addressed. The plan followed by the team demonstrated a great deal of thought.	At least two areas of the task were not addressed. The plan followed by the team demonstrated a moderate level of thought.	The task is incomplete and/or it is apparent that little effort went into the development of the task.	____
Process: Teamwork	It is evident that a mutual effort and cohesive unit created the final product.	The team worked well together, but could have utilized each other's skills to a better degree.	The team had problems working together. Little collaboration occurred.	The final product is not the result of a collaborative effort. The group showed no evidence of collaboration.	____
Process: Originality	The ideas expressed by the body of work demonstrate a high degree of originality.	The ideas expressed by the body of work are mostly original. The group may have improved upon a previous idea.	The ideas expressed by the body of work demonstrate a low degree of originality.	There were no original ideas expressed in this project.
Grammar, Format , and Spelling	The final body of work was free of grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.	The final body of work had 1 error related to either grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.	The final body of work had 3-5 grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.	The final body of work had major grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.
				Total---->	____

Teacher Comments:

You have acted as public policy analyst and have helped to investigate an important problem facing us today. At the conclusion of this project you will have accomplished several tasks. They are:

Ø To use the Internet to gather information and do research.

Ø To use critical thinking skills to make decisions.

Ø To use your persuasive skills.

Ø To make an oral presentation.

Ø To compile lists of useful information.

Ø To prepare a written report based on research.

Ø To prepare visual aids to support and clarify your findings.