Numbers are amazing. I have always related better to words thannumbers. Yet, I find numbers fascinating. Words can be interpretedin many different ways depending on context, tone of voice, facialexpression, punctuation and so on. With numbers, however, there areundeniable truths. The closer you study numbers the easier it is tosee how they connect and relate to each other. Patterns develop andcross and overlap in infinite ways and yet retain a certain orderand reason that never changes.
It wasn't until I got to high school that I began to see how aperson could love math. Algebra and geometry were like games to me.Rather than just trying to find an amount or a set answer, you weresolving for the unknown. Learning formulas that remain true despitechanging variables. Understanding how to prove something to be trueor possible using how shapes and angles and how they relate to eachother. Seeing the importance of parts and wholes. This is what mademath real and important to me. I still don't consider myself a mathperson but I've come to respect that even though I am more partialto words, being able to use and understand numbers is an importantpart of my education.
There was a time when education just covered the fundamentals.Students learned how to perform basic functions. As the worldadvanced, however, education had to change. Educators realized thatschools should be training students to be adult world citizens. Notonly do they have to graduate and get a good job but they also needto know how to function in the world. Thus the ability to understandphilosophical and abstract concepts as well as the ability tointerpret and not just memorize became integral to educating someonefor life.
In high school I could see how real life relates to algebra. Weall have certain formulas for our life that work. The answer may bepositive or negative and its value is subject to unknown variablesthat can change at any time.
That's what school should do, isn't it. Being able to applyinformation you've learned not just to your life but to life ingeneral is what separates knowledge from information.
Being able to then use that knowledge to then make things betterfor yourself and others is a loftier, yet still attainable, goal. Inan attempt to reach that goal, many school systems beganimplementing character education as part of the curriculum. Teachersare encouraged to have discussions and do activities with theirstudents that stress respect, responsibility, honesty, equality,friendship and so on. It's all well and good to have talks and dosome role playing but as I learned with math, it's always best ifyou can make a concept affect the real world.
The best way to get an adolescent to develop strong character isthrough community service. We live in a complex world duringobviously uncertain times. We have been shown yet again that wereally only have control over our own actions.
As educators it is our job to help our students see how they fitin the world. We have to help them draw the connection between whatthey do and the impact it has on others and the world we live in.
Giving back to the community through service projects givesstudents tangible evidence of the truth in the proverb: when I helpyou, I help me.
When you are young and so much of your life seems out of yourcontrol it is natural to be self-absorbed. It's easy to believethere is nothing you can or should do to better our world, ourcommunity. Even though the Internet has made it easier tocommunicate with people from around the world, we still struggle toconnect with each other. We still forget to truly empathize andunderstand that not one of us is without suffering and moments oftragedy.
Getting involved in community service helps answer the questionwe have all asked about what we learned in school. Why do we need tolearn this stuff? Why is this important? Finding projects that arerelevant to our lives broadens our horizons and gives us real worldexperience handling the character issues we all face. For youngpeople, community service gives them a chance to give input. Itchanges their perspective on why life is important and precious. Itgives them the control to change the world for the better.
Our curriculum now includes subjects like physical education,health and nutrition, sex education, art and foreign language. Thisis all designed to give young people the information and skills theyneed to fulfill their personal goals. In addition to being confidentthey can take care of themselves, however, they also shouldunderstand the necessity of using their knowledge to help others.
Adults talk often about wanting to make the world a certain wayfor future generations. Perhaps we should be focusing on teachingthose younger than ourselves how to shape a better world themselves.An elder told me recently that ritual is better than sacrifice. Bymaking service to others a regular part of our lives we may avoid ahigher price later. Giving a little of ourselves will keep us fromlosing all of our souls.
- Mariel Blake, a writer, teacher and spiritual adviser, is aDaily News contributing columnist. She lives on St. Thomas and canbe reached at MarielBlake@netscape.net
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