The online July 2009 edition of Educational Leadership has a great article focused on Parkway High School for Peace and Social Justice, a public high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to the article, since the school shifted to its peace and justice focus:"Since Parkway embraced this theme, test scores have risen, suspensions have decreased, attendance has increased, and the graduation rate has hit 100 percent, with almost all students going on to college. Parent participation is stronger. Teachers are more committed to the school's programs, and students are showing an enthusiasm for learning not always seen in high schools. Adopting this focus has made a difference in students' self-discipline, interpersonal relationships, and willingness to take responsibility for their own learning."
The article's author, educational consultant Elliott Seif, says that the school's successful transformation lies in part with its dedication to four dimensions he believes are "essential for fostering social responsibility within any school." They are:
- Remaking school culture (school culture is focused on peacemaking, conflict resolution and critical thinking);
- Learning to reflect and lead (students learn self-reflection, personal responsibility and social leadership);
- Integrating social responsibility themes into academics (most areas of the core curriculum integrate social justice issues and the school offers other social justice courses);
- Promoting service (students participate in community service and seniors are required to complete a "multidisciplinary project connected to a real-world problem").
Read the complete article.
~ Marsha
No comments:
Post a Comment