MONTE VISTA—“No taxation without representation!” These shouts could be heard at Monte Vista Middle School on Monday, Nov. 20. They were part of a mock protest eighth graders participated in as part of a project-based learning approach by teacher John Camponeschi or “Campo” as students call him.

“It’s good for the students to be a part of the history rather than the history talking down to them,” said Camponeschi. The students have been studying the American Revolution and were reminded that the United States was born in protest. “Protest has gained a negative connotation recently but it has still maintained itself,” he said.

The mock protest was a completely voluntary event at the end of the overall lesson, according to Camponeschi. Students were assigned to one of six events that led to the American Revolution such as the Quartering Act, Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Proclamation of 1763, Intolerable Acts and the Tea Act and associated Boston Tea Party. Students were assigned to make propaganda posters and could choose whether they were for or against the event. Many students were also allowed only to observe. Part of the lesson also required the students to come up with a solution to their protest. The mock protest included an invite to the media. “This is a very realistic exercise and what you all might do later in life,” Camponeschi told the students.

Before students lined up in the mock protest Camponeschi explained aspects of the mock event and how it ties into current events. “Protest is a really important part of what we do as Americans. After Donald J. Trump got elected last fall there were protests all around the country. Some of those protests got a pretty negative connotation. As a matter of a fact I can tell you from first-hand experience that when I taught at Centauri I was told by some adults that there is nothing more un-American than protest. While I disagreed with the material damage that was happening I disagree that protest is not American. Protest is very American. Think about the things in this mock protest, it led to the creation of our country. Think about the protests that happened during the civil rights era, it led to civil rights for all Americans not just African-Americans. Please be aware of that. You are doing something that is incredibly American and something that you in your life may be called on to do. This is literally putting yourself in history,” said Camponeschi.

After this students gathered in groups with their propaganda posters. Each group then explained what item from the American Revolution they were protesting and what their stance was. They then led their group and observing students in a mock chant in favor of or against the event. Students also marched for a little distance in display of what may happen in real protests.

Camponeschi then ended the mock protest with a debriefing. “When we started this project I told you guys that we were studying the birth of America. It’s a unique thing to be able to study. Some of the countries in the world were formed pretty recently, others are hundreds of years old. We cannot dispute that the most powerful nation on earth is still the United States despite what some other people might say. There are a few things I want to remind you of. Even though some people nowadays don’t think protest is a good thing, it is an incredibly American thing. Think about the things you all just protested. It is exactly what the colonists were doing at Boston and Providence and New York City in order to get their point across. One of the reasons that happened is because they were denied their right of assembly...we are so lucky to live in a country that still allows us to protest. Even though some of our peers may think that protest is bad they’re very wrong,” he said.

True to his very words in his lesson to students, upon Valley Publishing posting photos of the mock event to their Facebook page some community members began a social media protest against the project. Camponeschi, students, and parents responded to the criticism. Everyone explained it was in a historical context and parents were satisfied the history behind the event was easily explained by students.

Campo continued his debriefing on Monday by addressing damage to property and violence that has erupted at some recent protests. “There is a kind of protest that is not productive. When you get destructive, people start to see the destruction instead of the message of the protest. We saw this last year with Black Lives Matter riots and we saw it this year with Neo-Natzi riots, and we saw it after the election of Donald Trump. You may ask yourself well what about the Boston Tea Party where they threw a quarter of million pounds of tea into the harbor, about $8 million in modern currency? We also have to be aware that times change. As you proceed with your lives I want you to remember that you should always maintain your right to peacefully assemble. I hear you do it in the hallways and outside of school. If there’s one thing that makes us truly American it's that we can make signs and slogans and march around,” he said.

“It doesn’t mean that you follow your government lock and step. It doesn’t mean you agree with everything the government does. We still obey the government's laws. Protesting is one of the most natural things that human beings want to do and also one of the most American,” said Camponeschi.

After the mock protest a few students took time to reflect on the project. “This is better than the normal reading, tests and worksheets. With this we’re getting hands-on experience and seeing how it is to protest. Since it is hands-on it’s more impactful than just reading about it,” they said.