One of a parent's most important tasks is preparing their offspring to one day go out into the Big Wide World as a productive, contributing, responsible citizen. So, at home we do our best to model things like: being cooperative and caring toward others, resolving conflicts appropriately, making sensible decisions, managing time and resources skillfully, and so forth. Then during their school time, they focus on the business of learning about numbers, and books, and history and...scienc-y stuff. At least, that's the way I've always understood it. But the academic realm has evidently changed a bit since I finished my scholastic career. (I know, big shock, right?) Now there's a new requirement for all students hoping to earn a High School Diploma: 75 SSL hours. I'm sure you're thinking: what the heck is an "SSL", and why do you need 75 of those suckers? Well, Student Service Learning hours "combine meaningful service to the community with curriculum-based learning" for the purpose of "improving academic skills by applying what is learned in school to the real world, then reflecting on the experience to reinforce the link between the service and the learning." Whew, does that clear it right up for you, like it did for me?
Anyway, you can begin accumulating SSL hours as soon as you complete 5th grade...but we had no idea what we were doing waaay back then, so midway through 6th grade we're just getting into the game. It turns out--and believe me we're still not entirely sure how this works--that there are many "pre-approved" opportunities to earn credit. For example, Riley's (and Derek's former) Elementary School recently held a Grounds Beautification Day, in which kids and parents could come pull weeds, plant flowers, lay mulch, and other...garden-y things. For doing this, Derek racked up his very first 2 hours of SSL time. (Yes! On our way! 73 to go!) He returned home covered in dirt, proudly waving his filthy Verification Slip duly signed by the Adult in Charge. (Incidentally, Riley participated as well...and got nothing to show for it...except grimy! But he enjoyed himself, supported his school, and bonded with his Dad and brother, so that's very valuable too...) Now all Derek needs to do is write the Reflection paragraph, addressing the questions: What need did your service address? Who benefitted? And (my favorite): What did you learn about yourself? (Ooh! I can answer that one! "I'm a typical boy who loves playing in the mud!" Or perhaps that's not the kind of deep, insightful self-analysis they're looking for...I guess he should do it himself, without Mom's input...)
But his next chance to score some SSL time was even more...recreational. He volunteered to help out at the Elementary School's Spring Carnival. Yes, that's right, he basically received 5 hours of credit...for supervising games and handing out prizes to little kids. Wow. Tough gig, huh? When I picked him up--after his afternoon of strenuous and exhausting activity--he couldn't stop raving about how much fun he'd had, hanging out with his friends who'd showed up to work as well, helping kids win the toys, eating the free food provided by the Parent Coordinators...testing out the huge inflatable slide when no one else was waiting to use it. Now, I'm not in any way suggesting that these educational volunteering experiences should be difficult, or painful...but are they really supposed to be quite so much of a party? And Jeez Louise, I can not WAIT to read what he comes up with for selling this one as a "meaningful community service event." What did this teach you about yourself? That you would welcome a life in the Circus? This oughta be good...
And only 68 more hours to go!
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