If preparing students to become active and responsible participants in our nation's democracy is a key role for public schools - and surely it is - then count Maine West High School as one of the state's best at fulfilling that mission.

On Friday, Sept. 18, the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition - joined by the Illinois State Board of Education and several elected officials -- honored Maine West as one of three suburban schools whose work has earned the designation of "Illinois Democracy School."

"Democracy Schools are those where the rights, obligations and tensions of citizenship in a constitutional democracy are consistently taught. As students develop essential citizenship knowledge and skills, genuine civic experiences are needed that link the classroom to the 'real world'," explained Carolyn Pereira, whose Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago chairs the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition.

"In applying for the 'Democracy School' designation," said West Social Science Department Chair Susan Gahagan Mueller, "we had to highlight multiple examples of how we not only teach about the importance of democracy but also how we get students engaged in the democratic process through extra-curricular activities, projects, simulations and field trips related to classroom activities on both a small and large scale."

Each year, West's students participate in a Model United Nations program, Illinois Youth Summit and a SEEDS (Students Educating for Equity in a Diverse Society) project. The latter is designed to demonstrate, through students' own projects, that citizens -- including young adults -- have the power to bring about change when they equip themselves with knowledge and well-considered action plans.

Maine West Social Science students also participate in Maine Township and Des Plaines City Government days; in the latter event, students last year put their research and knowledge on impressive display in a mock Illinois Gaming Board hearing on issuing the state's final gaming license.

During the weeks leading up to the 2008 Election, Maine West Social Science students, in conjunction with the Mikva Challenge and Youth in Action, produced voter-information brochures and polling-place information cards; invited candidates to speak to classes; assisted teachers in voter-registration efforts; and helped organize a mock election that drew close to 2,000 student votes. Some West students who had turned 18 were trained and served as election judges in actual balloting.

Mueller said she and West Social Science teachers Dan Fouts, Gwynne Ryan and Kelly Pecak applied for "Democracy Schools" status at the urging of the Constitutional Rights Foundation, which Maine West's Social Science staff assisted in producing a booklet that serves as a blueprint for involving students in civic activities.

West was recognized on Friday (Sept. 18) in Chicago, where Mueller, Fouts and Pecak attended a ceremony at which they received a plaque signed by Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald, Illinois State Board of Education Chair Jesse Ruiz and local state legislators.

Ruiz summarized the importance of the designation by saying, "The existence and advancement of a free society depends on the knowledge, skills and understanding of its people. When students have meaningful learning experiences in the social sciences and civic education, they gain the skills and knowledge they need to be contributing members of society, now and in the future."

The Illinois Civic Mission Coalition is part of a national initiative to prepare young people to become informed and active participants in our democracy.

Other schools honored this year along with Maine West are Glenbard South, in Glen Ellyn, and Wheaton North.