| One of the main goals of schools today is to | | | | students to get more involved in community |
| turn out productive, successful members of | | | | service projects, whether it's a day or two |
| society; kids that will one day be leaders of | | | | working in a soup kitchen, reading to the |
| our country, states, cities, or | | | | blind, or becoming a Big Brother or Big |
| neighborhoods. Whether our youth become | | | | Sister. The options are nearly endless, and |
| actors, athletes, lawyers, doctors, | | | | need only to be matched to an Atlanta Schools |
| electricians, plumbers, or policemen, they | | | | student's interests. |
| will influence society as a whole and lead | | | | |
| others by example. Atlanta Public Schools are | | | | For some, more stringent college admissions |
| trying their hardest to give students not | | | | standards have helped motivate Atlanta |
| only an academic education, but an education | | | | Schools students to get out there and |
| that also includes community service - giving | | | | volunteer. Not only do admissions officials |
| to others by doing for others who cannot do | | | | expect community service hours from |
| for themselves. Atlanta Schools - | | | | prospective Atlanta Schools students, many |
| particularly high schools - are requiring | | | | colleges and universities require volunteer |
| students to participate in community service | | | | hours before students can receive their |
| projects as part of their education. Today's | | | | diplomas. |
| generation of Atlanta Schools students, known | | | | |
| as "Generation Me", are learning the value of | | | | While some naysayers question the value of |
| helping others. | | | | "mandatory volunteering" I view it more as an |
| | | | introduction to service. In order for Atlanta |
| A recent study conducted by the Center for | | | | Schools to produce citizens fully capable of |
| Information & Research on Civic Learning & | | | | contributing to our society, an appreciation |
| Engagement showed that 80 - 85% of incoming | | | | of the value of service to others is a must. |
| college freshmen have community service | | | | |
| experience prior to starting their higher | | | | All of these experiences are indeed valuable, |
| education. That's a 66% increase over the | | | | and some would argue are invaluable for |
| previous study completed in 1989. Mark Lopez, | | | | students, like the ones attending Atlanta |
| the center's research director says the | | | | Schools, to acquire. As they mature, teens |
| increase can be interpreted to mean that | | | | develop their creativity, problem solving |
| students are being exposed to charities and | | | | skills and general abilities. The evolution |
| nonprofit organizations at a younger age than | | | | of these areas enables them to see great |
| they once were. Atlanta Schools seem to | | | | success in their volunteer experiences. |
| acknowledge this, and are pushing for their | | | | |