Junior David Terach named grand prize NYCLU essay contest winner

GOSHEN — Goshen High School Junior David Terach is the grand prize winner of the Hudson Valley Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union Bill of Rights Essay Contest.
The organization reviewed essays from schools across the Hudson Valley.
In addition to David receiving the grand prize, junior Kendra Byrne won the best-in-school prize for Goshen High School.
The students entered the essay contest as part of Eric Harris’s AP Language and Composition class which focuses on the use of rhetoric in reading and writing. Students were required to draft an essay that argued for or against the use of facial recognition technology in schools. The contest required critical thinking, writing skills, and knowledge of civil liberties.
“It is an absolute pleasure to work with these students on a daily basis,” said Harris. “Their ability to think critically inspires me daily. Our entire school community is so proud of them.”
The students, accompanied by their AP classmates, were recognized on Friday, Dec. 14, at Saint Paul’s Church in Mount Vernon, N.Y.
To read their winning essays, click on the links below:
"Facial recognition invades privacy and endangers students," by David Terach
"With the wise use of facial recognition, we can protect our schools," by Kendra Byrne, Goshen High School