At the Idea School, 10th and 11th grade students have been addressing the question, “What is American democracy and what should it be?” by studying important documents associated with American historical figures since our country’s inception. On Election Day, the historical figure in focus was Susan B. Anthony. Students read her famous speech on women’s right to vote, given after she was arrested for illegally voting in 1872, and learned about how her efforts led to the ratification of the 19th amendment in 1920. They considered the effect that the 14th and 15th amendments dealing with voting rights had on Anthony, propelling her to break the law to make her point. Students then reflected on how things have changed for women in this country since then and on the importance of voting rights in general. It’s an ongoing exploration of the meaning of democracy that will hopefully inspire them to greater civic responsibility.