Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Rick Smith announced the Hamilton County Board of Education and the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC) will host the 11th Annual Student SPEAK OUT Conference on Friday, February 1, 2013, at The Chattanoogan from 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.  The SSAC is an organization comprised of students representing every high school who meet regularly with the Superintendent. The conference is sponsored by the Federal Character Education Partnership Grant.  The entire conference will be student led.

Each high school selected five students to attend the conference.  They will engage in the following focus group discussions led by student members of the SSAC:

-- Has bullying risen to a new low for peer interaction?  What solutions can make a difference?

-- What rights do students have when it comes to religious expression in the schools?

-- How will e-books improve student achievement?

-- How does self-esteem/confidence improve student achievement?

-- What are the pros and cons of internet usage and social networking?

-- Do schools effectively deal with drugs, alcohol and tobacco?

-- How does character development impact decision making in schools today?

SPEAK OUT Conference Announced