If you are a teacher, this post is for you.
The prerequisites for this plan of action are:
- An understanding of the basic concepts of Daylight Saving Time.
- Students who are willing to engage with local elected officials for non-partisan education.
The steps to participation are as follows:
- As appropriate for your students’ grade level, lecture about the history of Daylight Saving Time or ask the students to research the history and write a research report. Here’s a good start of research resources about DST.
- Once the research is done, gauge interest in trying to make a difference in ending DST clock-changing.
- If interest is sufficient, have the students research the plan presented on this site.
- If as a class, or as an independent project, students want to be part of the plan to change the law they should find their local state legislators from the state senate as well as the house or whatever the other body is known as. (Or in Nebraska, only the senators.) This tool usually works.
- The students should then ask for a meeting, either in the office of the legislator or ask that person or those people to come to the class to discuss the issue. (This is a guide put together by the Humane Society, but is applicable for most issues.)
- Introduce them to the concept, and then the model language, and tell them about the progress being made in other states using this language.
- Be sure to follow-up and thank the official.
- The best time to talk to a legislator is in the fall, before the legislative session begins.
- All state capitols have arrangements for tours for students during the legislative session. Be sure students know their legislators to arrange a brief meeting while visiting the statehouse.
- If your legislator introduces the model legislation, or some version of it, be sure to contact any and all local media to let them know about your support for the position and your role in sparking the discussion.
- Once the resolution is passed be sure to ask the legislator if you can be present for any bill-signing ceremony.
And of course, if you have any success at all, be sure to let us know via the contact info on this page and we’ll be sure to highlight your success on this blog.