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January 18, 2017 <br />Item 5.C <br />Essay Contest <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />In September 2016 the Human Rights Commission distributed the following essay contest <br />question to all public and private schools within the RAS District. The essay contest is for sixth, <br />seventh and eighth grade students. The deadline to complete the essays is January 30. <br /> <br /> <br />Prejudice and stereotypes affect the way we perceive and interact with each other, even <br />when we <br />human rights? Where in your life have you seen prejudice and/or stereotypes, and how <br />has seeing/experiencing that affected you personally? What ACTION can you take <br />regarding this experienced or witnessed discrimination? <br /> <br />Discussion <br /> <br /> <br />1.In previous years the commission has received between 100 and 300 essays. Essays will <br />not be collected until the end of the month, so we do not know how many there will be to <br />read. The commission is asked to consider the most efficient way to review the essays <br />and to select winners (may not want to make a final decision until after we know the <br />number of essays). <br /> <br />Options to review could include: <br /> <br /> <br />All commissioner read and grade all essays. <br /> <br />Two or three commissioners read all of the essays and select the top 25 to 35 <br />essays for all commissioners to read and grade. <br /> <br />Divide equal number of essays among all commissioners and have each <br />commissioner review their set of essays and recommend their top three or four <br />essays for final consideration. Then all commissioners read and grade the set of <br />top essays. <br /> <br /> <br />2.In previous years a commissioner created a rubric for grading. The rubric was developed <br />around the specific question. Staff drafted a new rubric, worth 30 points, for the new <br />question. The rubric should be reviewed to ensure that it fully reflects the essay question. <br /> <br /> <br />3.Essay contest winners will be invited to a council meeting to receive a certificate and to <br />read their essays. In 2016, the HRC met with the council in early May. <br /> <br /> <br />4.Essay contest winners are awarded monetary prizes in addition to a certificate. In 2016 <br />the first place winner received $150, second received $75, third received $50, and <br />honorable mentions received $15. The previous year the first place winner received $100, <br />and all other prizes remained the same. The Commission also spent approximately $60 on <br />refreshments for the reception following the presentation at the council meeting. <br /> <br />Attachment <br />Draft Rubric <br /> <br />