The fourth-, fifth-,and sixth-grade stu dents in Barbara Lewis's
classroom do not spend all of their time in school struggling
with dividing fractions and memorizing spelling words; some of
their school time is taken up fighting city hall. These
children, from some of the poorest families in Salt Lake City,
are "responsible" for the clean-up of a hazardous waste site,
the planting of hundreds of trees, and the passage of seven new
laws. In her book, The Kids' Guide to Social Action, Lewis tells
children that "solving social problems will bring excitement and
suspense into your life. Instead of reading textbooks and
memorizing what others have done, you'll create your own history
with the actions you take." Across the country, schools are
adding a new subject to the curriculum-- political activism.
While Lewis's students receive grades in her class for their
political activities, scores of school districts have set up
programs that require all students to perform community service
before they graduate. Parents