Bolingbrook Student Proposes ‘Civil Discourse and Democracy Act’ for Illinois Schools

BOLINGBROOK, IL — State Rep. Natalie Manley recently welcomed former intern and graduating Bolingbrook High School student Miriam Tsegay to her district office in Romeoville for a presentation on the importance of civil discourse in education, according to a release from Manley's office.

Tsegay, who interned with Manley during summer 2024, shared her research on ways to help students overcome political polarity, and learn skills to have respectful conversations in the classroom.

“Interns like Miriam play an important role in my state office, not only what they contribute to our district constituents and Illinois residents, but also what they take into their future, which benefits us all,” Manley said in a release. “Listening to her presentation and recognizing how she applied what she learned here to this project was an honor for me.”

Tsegay's project was part of her senior year research capstone program called Illinois Global Scholars, an initiative that allows students to explore a global topic, gain insight into related problems and take action to create a solution, according to a release.

Drawing from her experiences not only as an intern in Manley’s district office, but also as a senate page working on Capitol Hill and recently as a United States Senate Youth delegate, Tsegay was inspired to explore fostering the civil discourse skills necessary for open, productive and respectful conversations – skills especially necessary in today’s polarized climate but also important for college and career readiness, a release states.

“Miriam was a fantastic intern with a bright future,” Manley said.

Tsegay's presentation outlined a potential framework, inspired by the nonprofit organization Braver Angels. According to a news release, this framework, which could be implemented in schools through a funded educational mandate, emphasizes the use of the LAPP skills (Listen, Acknowledge/Agree, Pivot, Perspective) for challenging conversations. These skills can be taught as early as first grade and applied across various subjects, including English and history, by providing a structured approach that complements existing inquiry standards in Illinois.

Tsegay highlighted the critical need to address political polarization, noting the intensity of affective polarization in America. She emphasized how enhanced civil discourse skills could serve as a vital solution, promoting active learning and deeper understanding in the classroom, a news release shared.

She suggested that Illinois has the unique opportunity to become the first state to explicitly mandate the instruction of civil discourse in schools, setting a national standard. She proposed the "Civil Discourse and Democracy Act" to incorporate civil discourse and the LAPP skills into state standards, specifically within social studies civics standards in grades K-12 and English standards at the K-2 and 3-5 levels, working with organizations like Braver Angels to provide teacher toolkits.

Deeply inspired by Tsegay’s presentation, Manley expressed her strong interest in facilitating a dialogue among local educators on the subject. She intends to bring together educational leaders to hear firsthand about Tsegay's research and to discuss the significance of civil discourse in schools, according to the release.

"Miriam's presentation was incredibly insightful and timely," Manley said in a release. "The ability to engage in respectful and productive conversations, even when we hold differing viewpoints, is crucial for the well-being of our society. I am eager to connect Miriam with our local educators to explore how we can better equip our students with these essential skills."