BHHS Students Present the Civility Project

Dedicated students in Karen Twomey’s and Dallas Hearit’s Advanced Placement Government classes at Bloomfield Hills High School, in collaboration with Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Youth Assistance, proudly planned and presented the second annual Civility Project on December 10, 2024. This important endeavor aims to build community and enhance civil engagement by fostering quality communication on challenging issues, to strengthen our democracy, and to understand the importance of civil discourse within partisan politics.

AP Government students invited elected officials from local and state politics to participate and lead roundtable discussions. These individuals were honored with a donated VIP dinner and a music performance by BHHS students. Esteemed guests included: 

• Richard H. Bernstein, Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court 
• Nikki Snyder, Michigan State Board of Education
• Donni Steele, Michigan State Representative, 54th District
• Mediha Tariq, Oakland County Deputy County Executive, Health and Human Services and Public Services departments
• Michael Schostak, Bloomfield Township Treasurer 
• Jonathan Warshay, West Bloomfield Township Supervisor
• Dani Walsh, Former Bloomfield Township Supervisor
• Jason Abel, Bloomfield Hills School Board of Education Trustee Elect
• Paul Kolin, Bloomfield Hills School Board of Education Treasurer
• Carolyn Noble, Bloomfield Hills School Board of Education Secretary
• Rick West, Bloomfield Hills School Superintendent

Choir teacher Jessica Riley and members of the BHHS choirs kicked off the event by singing a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem. Dr. Dan Hartley, BHHS Principal, and Rick West, BHS Superintendent, both gave remarks noting the importance of building relationships, connections, and civil discourse. Teachers Twomey and Hearit thanked the 80-plus students involved in executing the event and explained the agenda for the evening.

Next, four students interviewed two Bloomfield Township elected officials: Schostak, a Republican, and Walsh, a Democrat, about the importance of listening and civility in discourse. Following the informative interview, all of the participating officials were introduced to the audience. Students then guided the attendees to the Main Commons, where tables were set up for roundtable discussions. Each table represented a principle of the 10 tenets of the Civility Pledge: (1) listen, (2) be truthful, (3) avoid gossip, (4) show respect, (5) seek common ground, (6) repair damaged relationships, (7) use constructive language, (8) take responsibility, (9) experience discomfort, and (10) expect and accept non-closure.

Attendees spent an hour rotating around to each table, allowing each person to hear from every official to discuss each precept. Twomey explained, “Elected officials, parents, educators and students have all shared what a unique opportunity it was to talk with people whose perspectives they would never have had the opportunity to hear. Seeds were planted, and meaningful connections were started because of our kids.” Student Tilly Stoller (grade 11) enjoyed the discussions, commenting, “Everyone here has a common ground, [they are] listening and understanding and seeing [different] perspectives of everyone’s opinions.”

Bloomfield Township Treasurer Schostak thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the students, describing them as friendly and engaged. Schostak found the presentation and roundtable discussions valuable, stating, “These students are coming of age in a highly polarized environment. Being able to work with and maintain relationships with people who have different political views is critically important. I wish more schools were teaching students how to strive for civility when faced with difficult conversations.” 

To wrap up the program, participants signed the BHHS Civility Pledge, committing to reflect on the quality of one’s own behavior and to work on engaging others in productive ways, thereby promoting civility in the community and beyond. Twomey reflected, “Hopefully the Civility Pledge everyone took will provide useful tools to keep connecting, acknowledging, respecting, and engaging.”

The Civility Project presentation can be viewed here.