A group of Conrady sixth graders made “soapbox” style speeches to the Hickory Hills City Council about their ideas to improve Hickory Hills. The speeches were part of a change in the sixth-grade social studies curriculum on democracy. The Conrady teachers said that the idea came from the C-3 Social Studies Standards that stresses inquiry. The premise was that the children learned that part of democracy is knowing that everyone should have a voice in the community. Ideas included more red light and surveillance cameras, conserving water, additional bike racks throughout town and the need for more public art.