R.J. Grey Junior High School held its annual Civics Fair on June 4 and 5, with over 400 seventh graders presenting their research and proposing ways for the public to advocate on local, state, and national issues that matter to them. The Fair was held over two days in the R.J. Grey Junior High School library. Eighth grade classes had opportunities to attend throughout the school day. The Civics Fair opened to the wider community after school on Wednesday, June 4, attracting over 300 members of the public.
PHOTO: 2025_06_14_CivicsFair_DianeBaum.jpg
Students presented on a wide range of issues facing teens including the effects of social media, the dangers of vaping, bullying prevention and response, book bans, LGBTQ+ rights, school-related stress and anxiety, and the importance of sleep. Other presentations focused on raising the minimum wage, food and housing insecurity, immigration, healthcare access, the “pink tax” (charging higher prices for products aimed at women), preventing animal abuse and neglect, the environmental impact of pesticides and rodenticides, and PFAS chemical accumulation in the environment. Others called attention to the war in Sudan, the threat of bird flu, and problems with the electoral college system. Still others worked on issues local to Acton and Boxborough, such as dangerous intersections and the need for bike lanes. One student team interviewed Boxborough Town Planner Alex Wade on incentives and barriers to increasing the number of restaurants in Boxborough.
Student-led civics projects are now required curriculum in Massachusetts in part due to advocacy by the League of Women Voters-MA. This is the second year that the Acton Area chapter of the League of Women Voters has partnered with R.J. Grey’s social studies team and school staff to bring in community volunteers to engage with students about their chosen civics projects. This year’s 30-plus community volunteers included Acton Area League members and current and former members of Acton and Boxborough municipal boards, committees, and departments. Volunteers presented each student with a certificate in recognition of their work. State Representative Dan Sena stopped by the Civics Fair on Thursday to engage with students on their civics projects.
Diane Baum is the School Committee beat reporter for the Acton Exchange. She served on the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee from 2015 to 2021.