It got silly cause we needed a break.

I don't like the idea of mandatory singing at all. Midnight singing as a special privilege sounds great to me, but then again, I'm unusual that way.

What's the cirriculum like? Life skills or what everyone should know who wants to go to higher education?

I think politics would be boring for those who can't see a use for it -- how to organize protests, how to deal with city hall, how to ask for grants for projects, how to get the media's attention, how to get free legal advice, how to deal with official harassment, what results can be gained, etc. If you want to work in recent history, do it at the same time you're discussing these ideas.

About respect -- your students use the word correctly, even if they only use one of its meanings.