A presentation of AIT.
>> It's messy.
It is freedom and it's rules.
It's rights
and responsibilities.
It's conflict and resolution.
>> Both empowerment
and compromise.
>> It is justice.
It is individual
and it's collective.
>> It's fairness,
respect and values.
>> It is equality.
It is truth.
It is government
and it's choices.
It's passionate.
It's problem solving.
It's action and it's possible.
It's me, my family
and my community.
"Democracy it is."
>> All: Democracy it is!
>> Mom? I'm over at Haley's.
Can I stay longer?
What? Right now?
Okay, okay.
My mom wants me
to clean my room.
I forgot it before I left.
>> How long will that take?
>> Well, it's kind of a mess,
but probably not too long.
>> My room is always neat.
I can't leave home if it's not.
>> Hey, I've got an idea.
Why don't you guys help me?
>> No way!
>> Oh man, this is gonna take
all day!
>> Well, what are you
waiting for?
The sooner you get home,
the quicker you'll be done.
>> Okay.
>> Wait!
How about if Lily and I
tag along on the way?
>> You'll help me clean up?
>> Nope, nice try!
Haley and I can hang out
at the park.
>> Yeah, we found a shortcut.
>> A shortcut?
Cool.
>> Student Council is for
grades two through five
here at the elementary school.
>> The way that the room is
arranged in a semi-circle,
it's like knights
of the round table.
So, everybody has a voice.
>> We vote.
>> This is a group of kids that
are learning about government.
>> Student Council, in a way,
is like government.
>> Well, we had an election.
>> We had to give a speech
for the class.
>> I made a speech, because
I really wanted to win it.
>> I started it a couple of days
early, so I could, like,
practice it and get it down.
>> There were a lot of people
running against each other.
>> Then we would elect
who we thought would be
the best people.
I knew that I might not make it.
I was really glad
that I was elected.
>> It was cool to get elected.
>> It is, like, kind of
a big responsibility.
>> Because, they have to
show up for meetings.
They have to bring ideas
from their fellow students.
>> They depend on us,
because they voted for us.
I think we should show them
that we can be depended on.
>> What would you like to do
for this month?
Somebody make a motion.
>> I suggest crazy hat day.
>> I second that motion.
>> All in favor
of crazy hat day say, aye.
>> Aye.
>> Opposed?
All opposed?
>> Nay.
>> The aye's have it.
That means the motion passes
and we're going to have
crazy hat day.
>> Boys and girls,
give yourselves a hand.
You did a great job.
We have five minutes to spare.
>> We're having a special lunch
at school.
Somebody thought of it
at Student Council.
>> I think it's a good idea.
>> We decided we wanted
to do it.
>> Kids voted on it.
>> I think it's a great idea.
>> Some people
on Student Council invited
some senior citizens.
>> We thought this might be
a good chance.
Senior citizens don't
really get to go out a lot.
>> Like, if they're lonely,
they could have people
to talk to, and stuff.
>> This is quite an honor
to be invited to this.
They put on quite a feed.
>> And special food
that we don't usually have.
>> It's pretty impressive,
I'll tell you.
>> I think the students
should feel proud
of what they have accomplished.
>> I think that Student Council
was a very good idea.
>> I think it gives the kids
a voice.
The best thing I see
is the connection between
these students and people
in the community.
>> It can't get any better
than that.
>> I want to be in it
next year again.
>> The shortcut's right here.
>> We found the path over there.
>> I don't see the path.
>> But it is here.
We found it a couple weeks ago.
>> This is taking too long.
Maybe we should just go back
to the regular way.
>> No, look, over here!
That's the path,
but I don't remember all that!
>> It looks like somebody
used our shortcut.
>> Or abused it.
This is disgusting!
>> It was a great place.
I thought we could
make a hideout here.
>> Me too, but not now.
>> Yeah, who wants
to hideout in a dump?
Anyway, my mom's waiting.
Is this where the path
goes through?
>> Yep, from here on it's easy.
>> You coming?
>> Nah, we're going to
head back to my house.
>> See you later.
>> Why did someone do this?
It spoils it for everyone.
>> Yeah, especially for us,
and our hideout.
>> I have two best friends in
my classroom, Max and Templeton.
And they're rats.
This is Templeton.
>> This is Max.
>> This is Templeton.
>> This is Max.
>> That's Templeton.
>> This is Templeton.
>> And we love the rats
as much as they love us.
>> A man from the Humane Society
gave us the rats,
so they can have a better home.
>> Max and Templeton here
are domesticated rats.
They've changed
from the wild kind.
>> Our responsibility
is to take care of the rats.
We have to give them food,
make sure they have space,
and give them water.
>> We started hearing that
they were not allowing teachers
to bring in animals
>> The school board said
that we couldn't have animals
in classes because we could be
allergic to them or sick.
>> It was frustrating, because
I was like, well, why do they
have to take the rats away
today?
>> They obviously wanted
to do something.
>> Should animals be allowed
in classrooms?
>> Yeah.
>> Why, or why not?
>> Marcus is saying
they might not have owners.
Do the animals at the Humane
Society have owners?
>> No.
>> No, so you're
helping them out.
Let's try the why nots.
>> Gabby, go ahead.
>> They might get out
of their cage.
>> Emma?
>> Kids might be allergic
to them.
>> If people are allergic
to animals, then you could just
take the pets out of that class
and then other classes
would have pets.
>> The school board, they will
talk about these reasons,
a lot of the same reasons
that you've given here.
>> We wrote letters to
the school board, because
we wanted to change the rules
so we can have the rats back.
>> It's not a law,
but it's a policy.
So, it's similar to a law
in a way, and that you just
don't have to accept that
if you feel that it's unfair.
There's things
you can do about it.
>> Dear school board.
We like the rats,
but you changed the rules.
>> I think you should not
have the rule that you
can't have pets at school
or in classrooms.
>> I wrote a letter,
and it was in the newspaper.
That meant that other people
could see it and say well,
"I could change my mind
about not letting the rats
in the classrooms."
>> I feel they've learned a lot
about how to be a citizen
in our society.
>> It is important to express
your opinion 'cause you might
change a rule.
( phone rings )
>> Hello?
>> It's me.
>> You're done already?
>> Yeah, it wasn't so hard
once I got started.
Is Lily still there?
>> Yeah.
>> I've got an idea.
Meet me back in the park,
back at the hideout place
in the woods.
>> Go there?
With all that trash?
>> Don't worry, just meet me
there in 15 minutes.
>> He wants us to meet him
at that trash pile.
>> I think I'd really
rather not.
>> Come on, just meet me there.
I've got a plan.
>> He says he's got a plan.
>> This better be good.
>> See you there.
>> Okay.
>> Bye, mom!
>> We're just here to save
animals.
>> When I found out about it, I
just wanted to go out and help.
>> A long time ago, people,
they used to just shoot dogs
in the head.
>> I've been working out there
since the beginning.
( barking )
>> Dalhart
is a pretty small town.
>> Everybody
knows everybody here.
>> About 7,000 people
in the city.
>> The only bad thing about it
is a lot of dogs
running around without homes.
>> Some people don't like dogs,
and they just let them go.
>> I don't know how they
could do that to their dogs.
>> My students came to me
with this problem, because
we had read in the paper
that they were euthanizing
over 600 in our city.
>> We just heard about
all these dogs being euthanized.
>> We used to be killing
a lot more dogs
than New York City would be.
>> It's an amazing figure
for a town of 7,000 people,
that you're putting down
that many animals each year.
>> Her 4th grade class told her
that they didn't want them
doing that anymore, so they
asked the city for some land,
and they fixed it all up
and made the shelter.
No dogs are killed out there.
They keep on feeding them
until they can find them a home.
>> You know, it was the kids'
idea, and I don't think they
ever dreamed it would be
as large as it is.
>> It's a paw, a dog paw.
>> DAWGS, D-A-W-G-S,
Dalhart Animal Wellness Group
and Sanctuary.
>> You must have on warm clothes
because it's really cold
out there.
They said it's below 30 already.
>> We took an action to help
animals and not just sit around,
watch TV all day.
We wanted to go out there
and help.
>> I feel like all these dogs
are mine and it's just like,
I have to be responsible,
so I can take care of
all these babies.
>> They're not just dogs.
They have human
characteristics, too.
>> They have feelings.
They have hearts that beat.
They're lovable,
like people can be.
They're nurturing.
>> Very, very loveable,
and cute and cuddly.
>> It makes me feel so happy,
being with them.
>> We're helping as many dogs
as we can.
We give them water and food.
And it's not just the fun stuff,
we have to clean their pens out.
>> It's pretty hard to work
out there with all the weather
conditions.
>> It's pretty cold out here.
>> It's windy!
>> Everything's been freezing.
And if we didn't break the ice,
then they wouldn't have
any water.
And this came out of
one of their buckets.
>> I think the problem
in Dalhart, and I think probably
it's a national problem,
is people aren't responsible.
>> If they want a dog, they
should have the responsibility
to take care of it;
feed, water, clean it.
>> That's why we've got 500 dogs
out there at the shelter.
>> We've adopted out
over 2,500 dogs.
>> When a dog gets adopted,
it makes me feel happy,
because they're finally
getting into a home, which makes
more room at the shelter
for more dogs to come in,
so we can help more dogs.
>> It's kind of sad
letting them go.
It's like, I'm letting go
one of my own dogs.
>> I feel happy, but I cry.
But I feel happy that
they're getting a new home.
It's like tears of joy.
>> Because I want the dogs
to live, have good lives.
>> Here he comes.
>> So, what's your plan?
>> This.
>> More trash?
>> Trash bags and gloves.
>> That's your plan?
>> Look, if we clean this place
up, it can be our hideout.
>> I thought you
hated cleaning up.
>> Well, yeah, but it won't take
too long if we all work.
>> It is a cool place.
>> I'm responsible for my room.
But a park, too?
>> You want a hideout, right?
>> Yeah.
>> Just think of it
as your other room.
>> Very funny.
Okay, let's get to work.
>> I can't wait
till we get done.
This will be awesome!
>> To learn more about our program, visit our Web site: democracyitis.ecb.org