Lesson 4: Methods of Advocacy

Goal

Define advocacy, give examples of advocacy for ABE services, including participating in rallies; voting; writing, calling, and visiting state legislators; and helping legislators with their work.

Objective

When asked for examples of ways people can advocate for ABE funding, students will identify six examples.

Preparation and materials

• Board or newsprint and markers
  
• Paper and pencils/pens
  
• One Set of large pictures of advocacy methods

Introduction

Tell students: (If you chose to cover only Unit 2 with your class, read the Student Introduction to students now.) Before we talked about services we receive from government, and the taxes we pay to government for these services. We also talked about who pays and whether taxes are fair or unfair. We talked about the money problem the Massachusetts government has now. We talked about how we are worried that our classes may be cut. Now we'll talk about we can help keep the money (advocate) for services like our classes, or for other services.

Warm-up

Brainstorm with class to begin building information. Put responses on board or newsprint. Make separate columns for students' native countries and the US.

Discuss with the class:

• What are the state services that are important to you and your family? What will happen if the money for those services is cut?
• Who pays for these services? How do we(they) pay?
• In your country, can people tell the government that they want it to change something (advocate for something)? If yes, how can they do this?
• How do they tell the government that they want more money for state services?
• In the US, can people tell the government that they want it to change something? If yes, how can they do this?
• Are the answers about your country and the US the same or different? How?

Tell students: In this lesson you will talk about six ways people can help support (advocate for) money for classes and other services.

Activity

1. Tell students: There are many ways people can tell the government that they want more money for state services. Explain that this is advocating.

2. Refer to the list students brainstormed. On the board, put the Large copies of the pictures of advocacy methods as you discuss each one. Have students explain what each method means. Add any methods that are missing.

Enrichment/Extension Activities

Beginning ESOL/Literacy students:

• Give each student pair or group a set of the cards of the Small pictures of advocacy methods with the pictures and the words cut apart. Have them match the words with the pictures. You can use this activity as an assessment tool by having students work individually. Have students use the answer sheets to check their work. Have those who answered correctly explain their answers.
  
• Play a game of concentration: Have students turn the cards with the picture and definition cards face down, mix them up, and have them take turns flipping two cards over at a time, trying to find correct matches.
• Describe what the people are doing in the pictures.
  (See also activities for Intermediate/higher ESOL, ASE/high ABE/GED students)

Intermediate/higher ESOL, ASE/high ABE/GED students:

• Show the Picture of general advocacy method. Have students talk about their experiences with any method of advocacy. Remind them that they can include such methods as telling their bosses about how their classes help them do better in their jobs, and asking them to advocate for funding as well.
  
• Discuss the importance of explaining the tax system and budget issues to friends and family to help build support.
  
• Discuss forms of advocacy with the class, and write responses on board: What happens in your country when people do these things? What happens in the US when people do these things? Why do people choose to do some of these things? Why do some people choose not to do some of these things? Have students write their answers to some or all of these questions.
  
• Students give presentations about famous events in their countries related to advocacy.
  
• Near an election, collect flyers, newspaper articles, and other information sources on state and local candidates. Have students read the materials and think about these questions:
  1. Does the candidate talk about taxes? Is s/he specific?
  2. If there are to be cuts, where will the money come from? If there is to be a tax increase, who will pay?
  3. Does the candidate talk about funding for programs?
  4. Where will the money come from? Who will pay? Will another program need to be cut?
  5. Do the candidate's ideas seem fair to you?
  6. If the candidate has been in office, did he or she work for the issues that are important to you?