Wings Educational Resources Blog

Social Studies and Community Involvement

Posted admin on June 15th, 2008 | Filed under Community, Setting an Example

The greatest recent emphasis in the educational system, it seems, has been in the areas of Science and Math.  Appropriately so, with the growth of technology throughout every aspect of our lives and education.  However, I believe that a broadening and practical application of the field of Social Studies needs to take place.

It is great to learn about other countries, the names and locations of states/provinces and their capital cities, cultural acceptance etc., but what about closer to home?   Do the students know about the resources available to them within their own community?  Have they learned about the various cultures within their own community?

I’m not just talking about community helpers such as fireman, policeman, doctors etc., which are incidently great classroom guest speakers or hosts at their places of work for student class trips. 

Do they know what their own library has to offer?  Where do they get all their books?  Do they take books by donation?  Is there anything the student/child may contribute?  It is not just a place to take out books or find reference materials.  Often there are scheduled story times for the public, guest speakers which may be authors or other community outreach programs organized or performed by the library. 

What about the service the local food bank supplies?  How many people do they serve?  Do they have enough to fulfill the needs of the community?  Where do they get there donations from?  How important is the food bank?  Do they need any volunteers?  Are there things which students/children can do to help?

What about the local nursing or old-age home?  What does the student/child know about this institution?  What services does it provide?  To who?  What role of importance does it play in the community?  Volunteering at a place such as the former can not only broaden the students horizons by learning about needs and diseases of the elderly, but can “expose” them to great resources within the older population of the community.  First-hand stories can not only teach them about cultures and origins, wars, family etc. but about practical life experience.  The elderly are a great source and resource of wisdom!

It is easy just to sit back and expect community services to be available to you.  But how much do you really understand about the behind the scenes needs, opportunities, work to organize the programs available to the public?

Students need to experience first-hand visits to the services available in order to understand the functionality, environment, importance and practicality of these services.  It will not only provide them with a greater knowledge of their own community and provide them with more options, but it will help them to understand personal and community service roles and responsibilities.  Encourage them to become involved through volunteerism.  It may help them to develop their personal interests and talents and will help them to appreciate what they have and understand the idea of working for what you get or what is given to you.  Volunteerism can also be important in changing the focus of youth from themselves (Me! Me! Me!) to others and unselfish acts.

What about visiting the mayor or the mayor’s office to understand what it takes to administer a community?  What are the responsibilities of the mayor and/or the town/city council?  How do their decisions affect the community?  What about community growth and change?

Help students and children of all ages to understand that each person can contribute to their community and it can be in a variety of ways.  Each person has their own interests and talents which they can develop and share, at the risk of sounding corny, making the community a better place for all.  Isn’t that what Social Studies should be all about?  Would our communities be more peaceful or happier if people understood the importance of everyone making a contribution?