Welcome from the Superintendent Superintendent's Perspective Amid the numerous reports, national and local comparisons, and varied opinions about the purpose and progress of American schools, I rarely read one that describes how we are succeeding or failing on matters of student participation in their community. The lessons of individual contribution, participation, and personal commitment required for a community to flourish have been the hallmark of best civics lessons taught over the past two hundred years in schools. In High School District 214 such lessons are repeatedly learned and demonstrated by thousands of our youth who give of themselves as a way of giving back to the communities in which they live. Through service learning activities, students learn how to meet actual community needs. Some students participate in short term projects involving a week or more.
Examples are computer training for older adults or food drives.
This year, the students at another school have completed more than one million hours of student participation in service projects which have been enjoyed by many thousands of young and old citizens. Every school in District 214 provides its students with opportunities to participate in service learning activities, but that's not the end. Many students respond to world, state, and local needs. At one school, students take time from their summer plans and travel to another state to participate in Habitat for Humanity. At yet another school, large numbers of students help feed the homeless and also prepare one of the area's largest benefits to collect money for cancer research.