CREATING THE LEGACIES OF THE NEXT "GREAT" GENERATION
No wonder so many kids wonder if they matter. They constantly see adults engaged in the “important” things in life, but they rarely feel encouraged to join in.
Sure, we routinely help young people think about what they want to do and become “when they grow up.” But sometimes we forget to make the most of what they have to offer now. We forget to help them understand that at this very moment—day by day and deed by deed—they are in the process of “creating their legacies.”
“Creating a legacy” can be a powerful concept, because it means that each of us has the capacity to use our gifts, our passions, our knowledge and our strength of character to make a difference in the world. And when we join with others to address significant needs and issues, that capacity is greatly strengthened and enriched.
Kids can appreciate this capacity in positive role models—living or dead, famous or directly familiar. Many fictional characters in literature or media also present great “lessons in legacy.”
But ideally, we all want kids to move beyond the appreciation of others as role models, and have meaningful opportunities to become positive role models themselves. Service-learning can be an especially effective vehicle for accomplishing this goal.
Through service-learning, young people engage in local and/or global outreach that is directly connected with educational goals. They receive preparation about the issue or need they are tackling, they take action that matters, and they have opportunities to reflect upon the impact of their efforts. And when service-learning is carried out as a group effort, the diverse gifts and passions of many students can be appreciated and utilized.
Most educators believe that an important part of our mission is preparing young people to become active, committed “citizens of the world.” If we’re serious about that, shouldn’t we give them opportunities to explore that role now, while they are under our care and leadership? And shouldn’t we seize every opportunity to demonstrate how subject area skills and knowledge can be applied to help create a better world?
Service-learning can help us do those things for and with our students. And beyond this, it can help us tell them—through our actions, not just our words—that they do matter, and that we believe in their ability to make a difference in the world beginning right now, as we help them create their legacies.
Sure, we routinely help young people think about what they want to do and become “when they grow up.” But sometimes we forget to make the most of what they have to offer now. We forget to help them understand that at this very moment—day by day and deed by deed—they are in the process of “creating their legacies.”
“Creating a legacy” can be a powerful concept, because it means that each of us has the capacity to use our gifts, our passions, our knowledge and our strength of character to make a difference in the world. And when we join with others to address significant needs and issues, that capacity is greatly strengthened and enriched.
Kids can appreciate this capacity in positive role models—living or dead, famous or directly familiar. Many fictional characters in literature or media also present great “lessons in legacy.”
But ideally, we all want kids to move beyond the appreciation of others as role models, and have meaningful opportunities to become positive role models themselves. Service-learning can be an especially effective vehicle for accomplishing this goal.
Through service-learning, young people engage in local and/or global outreach that is directly connected with educational goals. They receive preparation about the issue or need they are tackling, they take action that matters, and they have opportunities to reflect upon the impact of their efforts. And when service-learning is carried out as a group effort, the diverse gifts and passions of many students can be appreciated and utilized.
Most educators believe that an important part of our mission is preparing young people to become active, committed “citizens of the world.” If we’re serious about that, shouldn’t we give them opportunities to explore that role now, while they are under our care and leadership? And shouldn’t we seize every opportunity to demonstrate how subject area skills and knowledge can be applied to help create a better world?
Service-learning can help us do those things for and with our students. And beyond this, it can help us tell them—through our actions, not just our words—that they do matter, and that we believe in their ability to make a difference in the world beginning right now, as we help them create their legacies.
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