Many definitions and theories of leadership focus on the innate traits that leaders must possess from birth, others on the characteristics acquired throughout adult life and the processes the individual is exposed to. It is also widely believed that leadership is solely exercised at positions of higher authority in institutions and organizations.…

Schools seeking to develop students' social, emotional, and academic skills should consider service learning as one way to help students apply those skills. As of the 2017-18 school year, 37 states and the District of Columbia required or encouraged school districts to offer community service education and service-learning programs. This NASBE…

Research shows that when young people participate in service, they are more likely to continue on a pathway of lifelong civic engagement. Research also shows that service-learning, an approach to education that ties community service to classroom instruction and reflection, contributes to students' success and has a positive impact on their social…

Random samples of Ohio 4-H community club members ages 10-14 (n=504, 25% response) and ages 15-19 (n=504, 27% response) were surveyed. Nearly 100% in both groups are involved in community service. Respondents spent equal amounts of time volunteering through school, out of school, on their own, or through 4-H youth development experiences. (SK)

Service learning outcomes for students include personal/social development, improved achievement and civic responsibility, and career awareness. The impact of service learning can be heightened by implementing explicit links to curriculum and greater student responsibility and choice. (Contains 31 references.) (SK)

The issue of character education has recently received much attention at both the state and federal level. One approach that shows particular promise in instilling in children character traits known to promote success and happiness in life is that of using children's literature as a pedagogical device. This digest examines some of the pertinent…

The future of rural schools is inextricably linked to the future of their surrounding communities, and service learning is a powerful tool for capitalizing on those links. Service learning makes students active participants in service projects that respond to community needs while furthering the academic goals of students. Service learning…

Discusses the benefits for students and communities of service-learning experiences. Briefly describes student efforts to formulate and solve community problems as part of the Expeditionary Learning project (Massachusetts), which calls on adults and students to embark on experiential learning "expeditions" to renew themselves as…

Service-learning gives school administrators a powerful tool to achieve some of their most important goals: educating students to high levels, connecting with the community, and preparing students to be active participants in the world around them. This issue paper examines why administrators support service-learning as a key element in school…

Noting that citizenship education is one of the major responsibilities of the public schools, this resource guide defines good citizenship as having 13 components, among them: respecting one's self and one's parents and home; possessing the skills necessary to live peaceably in society and not resorting to violence to settle disputes; respecting…

Community service learning combined with ethics education can enhance students' personal and moral development as well as their academic performance. Components of a successful community service learning program include student-implemented community service projects, discussion of real-life moral issues, personality development interventions, and…

The New Hampton School (New Hampshire) uses the holistic Total Human Development Model with both students and faculty to instill principles focused on relationships as central to teaching and learning; respect and responsibility; sense of community; whole person development within the community; compassion and service; and the meaningful,…

Despite many service-learning programs that are now in practice, the empirical assessment of their effectiveness is sparse, due in part, to the difficulty in identifying a common indicator to measure effectiveness. In order to bolster the empirical assessment of these programs, evaluation of one such service-learning program is presented here.…

Community service is excellent for students if done in proper circumstances. There should be worthwhile, carefully chosen, objectives for learner attainment. Learning opportunities need to be safe and emphasize the psychology of education. Noting that he has supervised student teachers in the public schools for 30 years, the author of this paper…

Discussion of the need to include affective components in the education of gifted students considers: development of interpersonal and emotional intelligence, the need for an affective curriculum component, the role of the teacher to address the social and emotional needs of gifted students, and inclusion of affective learning in multidisciplinary…