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