2010 CFOG Essay Contest

THE CONNECTICUT FOUNDATION
FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT

Announces

2010 HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY

CONTEST

            The Connecticut Foundation for Open Government (CFOG) is sponsoring its 10th annual high school essay contest with a top prize of $1,000, a second prize of $500, a third prize of $300 and $50 honorable mentions awards.

             Any high school student in Connecticut may enter the contest by writing a 250 to 600 word essay on one of the following topics:

1.    A legislative proposal would prohibit Connecticut public schools from punishing or censoring any speech by students unless it is “likely” to cause material and substantial disruption to the educational process. Is this the right standard? Should it make a difference if the speech occurs outside of school such as on e-mail or Facebook?

2.    Do you believe your city or town government is open and transparent and gives all the citizens the opportunity to comment and implement change if they disagree with decisions made by government officials?

3.    Newspapers, television and radio stations are legally responsible for what appears in their publications or broadcasts. Should the law permit people who have been libeled, slandered, “cyber bullied” or whose privacy has been invaded to sue the owners or operators of social networks such as Facebook, My Space and Twitter for such offensive statements by individual account holders? 

Essays must be typed and double-spaced, and postmarked or e-mailed no later than April 15, 2010. Essays should be mailed to:

The Connecticut Foundation for Open Government
35 Bunker Hill Road
Glastonbury, CT 06033

Essay may be e-mailed to: fcpww2@sbcglobal.net

2010 CFOG Essay Contest Press Release

Any questions on the contest should be addressed to Forrest Palmer, essay contest chair. He can be reached at the above e-mail address or at 203-262-6053.

For general information on the state's Freedom of Information laws,
check the Internet at www.state.ct.us/foi