SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS HIGHLIGHT STUDENTS’
COMMITMENT TO THEIR COMMUNITIES

MIAMI – Charged with the challenge of applying classroom learning to help solve a problem or meet a community need that they have identified, students in Miami-Dade public schools went beyond the call and experienced how it feels to be engaged citizens in their communities.

At a ceremony last week, students who participated in projects and their schools were honored for a job well done. Awards were given to outstanding projects from each school district region.

The winners for each region were as follows:

REGION 1: Miami Lakes Educational Center      

Project: Intergenerational Service Learning Oral History Project

Students in Mr. John Moffi's American History and American Government classes participated in an oral history project with World War II veterans.  The young historians researched the World War II era and interviewed veterans of the “Greatest Generation” in order to help preserve their legacy.

The students videotaped the interviews, then transcribed and documented them for publication for future generations to learn from. Their documentaries will be contributed to the Library of Congress Veterans’ History Project and to the University of Miami Archives and Florida International's Digital Library.


REGION II: Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High
Project: Student Court

The students in Ms. Connie Higgins' Comprehensive Law Studies class set out to seek methods that would reduce the incidence and prevent the escalation of disruptive behavior at their school.  These future attorneys and judges developed a student court, which is a voluntary alternative to the conventional process a student goes through when they have violated the school rules.

Students who have admitted guilt to a school offense appear before a jury of their peers.  Student volunteers assume the roles of defense/prosecuting attorneys, bailiffs, court clerks, court reporters, probation officers and jurors.  The student court, after hearing all the evidence in order to reach a fair and reasonable verdict, gave sanctions to the offenders. Sanctions include community service, mediation, jury duty, tutoring, and/or verbal or written apologies.

The project has helped to reduce disruptive behavior and has promoted a desire for self- improvement. It also fosters healthy attitudes towards school and the law.

REGION III: William H. Turner Technical Arts High School
Project:  LEGACY:  The Turner Tech Oral History Archive

Each year students utilize their technical skills learned in the Industrial Entertainment Technology Academy to capture local history and honor the community's pioneer citizens. Students interview, record, transcribe and reproduce the memories of Miami residents, both for the family of those interviewed and for the school's library. Future scholars may use the tapes to deepen their comprehension of how events have shaped the lives in our community.


REGION IV: Miami Shores Elementary School
Project:  Care Watch

Ms. Julie Bride's fifth grade class identified hurricane preparedness as their grass roots initiative.
The students generated a survey for their neighbors inquiring what type of assistance they needed to help prepare for a hurricane. They also volunteered to assist elders in their neighborhood.

They wrote letters to their local government officials to ask for support of the project and learned the function of local government. They also learned that they are an important factor in the process of developing ways to help their government be responsive to their needs.

REGION V: Miami Douglas MacArthur South Senior High
Project: Pupils' Perceptions

Students in the Visual Arts Service Learning Program study at ArtSouth studios located in Homestead. The young artists strive to restore pride to the cultures represented by the immigrant farm workers and their families in South Dade by creating and displaying beautiful artwork.

 MacArthur South artists and their teachers, Ms. Janis Klein Young and Mr. Steve Alterman, travel to ArtSouth to study and practice the traditional vanishing arts of their Latin and Caribbean heritages with resident artists. All the artwork created is framed by students and used to enliven the appearance of depressed neighborhoods.

The artists also utilize their newfound skills to brighten the lives of senior citizens, housed at retirement homes, severely mentally handicapped children and adults in a residential center, profoundly physically handicapped children and under-researched migrant children who attend aftercare programs.

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06-LJG/217/TEL

Editor’s Note: Photos of each winning group available upon request.

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