Eighth grade students in the Socorro Independent School District spent the first week of spring break in March learning about their constitutional rights to freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and petition at the Libertas Academy Spring Civics Institute.
More than 100 students participated in the eighth annual civics bridge camp, which introduces students who will be joining the Libertas Academy at Americas High School in the fall to the program. Libertas Academy is a one-of-a-kind program in El Paso and one of four programs in Texas focused on preparing scholars for career and college readiness in law, government, and public administration.
“(They’re) learning civil rights, what the Constitution means, and what the Bill of Rights means,” Amanda Zubiate Stevens, Libertas Academy law instructor, said about the camp. “This year, our foundational focus is the First Amendment, so we have different First Amendment rights that are being discussed, everything from censorship to freedom of speech on a social media platform. So, we try to keep relevant with the legal issues of today.”
Thanks to a grant from the Sumners Foundation, the weeklong camp provided civic lessons to students about the basic principles of democracy. They learned about the First Amendment, including topics such as censorship, book banning, freedom of the press, and notable First Amendment cases. They also explored the rights of students on social media.
On the last day, students presented what they learned during the week. They created board games, such as Monopoly, Battleship, and Bingo, to educate people about the First Amendment.
Senior Alejandro Flores attended a virtual Libertas Academy camp during the pandemic. He said that this year's camp not only taught students how to defend their First Amendment rights but would also help incoming freshmen feel comfortable by providing them with a sense of belonging to a group.
“These kids are going into high school, so it's very important for them not to be nervous or scared,” Flores said. “The camp helps to build a part of the Libertas family and the high school community.”
The camp brought together eighth graders and Libertas students, including Flores, who acted as mentors and counselors. This year, the camp also included eight eighth-grade students who will be starting the district's new P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) Criminal Justice program in the fall.
Although both programs are different, Stevens said the camp was an excellent opportunity for criminal justice students to gain a better understanding of fundamental rights and laws since they will be responsible for enforcing the law in the future.
Camila Hernandez, an eighth grader at John Drugan School, was excited about starting the P-TECH Criminal Justice program in the upcoming school year. She said the camp has provided her with a foundation of what to expect in a future career in law enforcement.
"It's shaping my career plan," Hernandez said. I'm going to major in criminal justice and minor in psychology so I can work for big agency programs and help people."
Sandra Lozano, director of the P-TECH Criminal Justice program, said she planned to host a similar bridge camp for criminal justice students next year. The program will welcome its first cohort of 25 students in fall 2024. Students who successfully complete the program will receive an associate degree in criminal justice and become certified to work in the field of security.
The Libertas Academy Spring Civics Institute is one of many bridge camps the district offered during spring break. Other bridge camps included Early College High School and Edgenuity College Prep.