This fall the Youth Leadership Initiative began piloting a service learning program entitled Democracy Corps. Democracy Corps is designed to connect learning about American democracy with service to community. The goal is to have academic learning inform community service and for community service to inform academic learning. Liberty Middle School in Ashland, Virginia is a school that has been successfully using the service learning model for over ten years. The school's Liberty Bill project exemplifies what can be achieved by implementing a program such as YLI's Democracy Corps.
YLI teacher Randy Wright began the project in 1997, asking students to imagine ways that they might expose the public to the U.S. Constitution. The result was a suggestion to put the U.S. Constitution on the back of a one dollar bill. When asked why they should pursue such a project one student responded, "Because it [the Constitution] belongs to us." In the ten years since its inception the Liberty Bill project has involved hundreds of students in projects including advocating Congressional representatives in Washington D.C. and making presentations to various local agencies and assembly members.
In order to complete such a project the students need to have an in depth understanding of the Constitution and what it means to the citizens of this country. Students are motivated to achieve this knowledge in order to participate in promoting the Liberty Bill to see it passed by Congress. They learn about the legislative process, the influence of special interest groups and PACs, the amendments and each of the branches of government. Armed with a deep understanding of the democratic process in this country the students then complete their service through the promotion of this piece of legislation.
The Liberty Bill project is an incredible example of what students can do. Randy Wright says that the hardest part was getting started. In his advice to other teachers thinking about service learning, he advocates taking small steps and letting it grow from there. Getting over the fear of "how will I fit this into my curriculum?" is the key to starting a service learning project. Democracy Corps assists teachers in taking the first steps to organizing and implementing a project in their schools.
Evidence to the importance of service learning is provided by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE):
... civic engagement activities raise the odds of graduation from college and improve high school students' progress in reading, math, science and history. For example, they estimate that service experiences- when required as part of high school courses- raise the odds of graduation from college by 22 percent.
- Davila and Mora, National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988
The Youth Leadership Initiative hopes that students will be able to gain lifelong skills from its Democracy Corps program. If you would like more information about Democracy Corps and to receive your FREE copy of the text contact YLI at ylihelp@virginia.edu or by calling 1.866.514.8389. To find out about how your school can join in promoting the Liberty Bill project contact Randy Wright at Liberty Middle School or go to their website listed below.
The Liberty Bill Project
Randy Wright
Liberty Middle School
13496 Liberty School Rd.
Ashland, VA 23005
804.752.6020
rswright@hanover.k12.va.us
http://hcps2.hanover.k12.va.us/lms/liberty%20bill/libbill.htm