Radio Commentary
Americans put public education on their list
of high priorities, and they support service-learning and civic responsibility
along with traditional academics.
A study by the Kellogg Foundation
showed that 94 percent of Americans agreed that a serious problem facing the
country was that people lack the skills they need to succeed.
89 percent agreed that continuing
to improve the K-12 education system should be a very high priority for our
nation.
Most also agreed strongly that a
good education is much more than just learning to read, write, and “do math.”
They included social skills, tolerance, and good citizenship as important
skills for all students to learn.
Service-learning — a teaching
method that combines service to the community with K-12 curriculum — was seen
as key to these goals.
Said former senator John Glenn, previous chair
of the National Commission on Service-Learning:
“Service-learning is unique because
it enables teachers to improve students’ academic performance, sense of civic
responsibility, self-confidence, and workplace skills with a single teaching
method. It links classroom lessons with real-life learning.”
It is effective and it makes a difference.
I salute those local schools that include
community service components, and service-learning projects, for their
students.
