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Kindergartners at Newport's
Fourth Street Elementary School are learning to share and
respect other children in a five-day "service learning" project,
and more than just parents or teachers should be grateful.
The kids learn by
doing, including construction of a collage of words and pictures
to brighten the days of youngsters recovering at Cincinnati
Shriners Hospital for Children. The Newport kids are shown a
video from Shriners, and first asked to brainstorm about ways
they could show kindness to the young burn patients.
Service learning
coordinators such as Maria Carter can point to studies that show
children exposed to service learning not only become more aware
of community needs, but their grade point averages, school
attendance and other performance ratings improve.
"The learning
drives the service," she said. Such methods show promise of
moving this next generation beyond the limitations of the
self-esteem movement. Youngsters aren't preached at. They aren't
just told they are somebody. They learn everybody else is
special too.
In one exercise,
each of their body shapes is traced on a life-size poster to
teach respect for each other's differences.
"We want to teach
our kids that it doesn't matter if they are in a wheelchair or
don't have two arms," said kindergarten teacher Michelle Ott.
"We all deserve respect."
Schools can't
start too early shaping such attitudes. It can head off conflict
and peer-proof classes against bullying. Since the 1960s we have
been reaping the whirlwind of the self-absorbed Me Generation,
slackers and others, and still see the ego antics of a Russell
Crowe or a Terrell Owens. They obviously missed the class when
it was explained, "It's not just about you." It's also about
others, throughout our lives. It's a rare employee anymore who
doesn't work on some kind of team.
The Northern
Kentucky Service Learning team supported by Children's Inc. and
corporate sponsors works with grades K to 8. Programs are built
around respect for the homeless, wildlife, senior citizens or
other vulnerable groups.
The payoff should
come in a kinder community.
Related Stories:
Respect for others comes in
little shapes and forms
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