From the Superintendent’s Seat:
Teaching Our Children to Give Back
By Dr. Carole G. Hankin with Randi T. Sachs

Our children study a great many subjects in school. Some of the lessons they learn will last a lifetime; in other lessons facts may be forgotten, but they serve to expand the childrens’ capacity for thinking and making decisions.

A fairly new phrase in education that is used more frequently now is “character education.” Recognizing that what is traditionally taught in the home must be reinforced in school, we have put character education into the curriculum alongside math and social studies.

Character education addresses such behavioral issues as good sportsmanship, kindness, generosity, helping others, honesty, integrity, safety, fairness, and more. It is important that we talk to our students about why we place such a high value on these attributes. We also can lead by example and help our students put these values into action–especially when it comes to helping others.

As a nation, we have made ourselves proud in the manner in which we have collectively sought to be of help and comfort to those who were directly affected by the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Many schools held fund raising drives, collected goods, and wrote letters of encouragement and thanks to our heroes and the victims and their families.

In our District, I am proud to say that our students have always had a great sense of community spirit and have organized many different events and drives to help others. It is not a requirement for graduation, but community service is part of every student’s experience in Syosset.

Beginning in kindergarten and first grade our students experience the rewards of giving by inviting senior citizens from the community to join them for a Thanksgiving celebration or by visiting a nursing home during the December holidays and singing for the residents.

Just this week, middle school students in Syosset started the morning with laps around the track constituting a walkathon to benefit cancer research. Together with faculty, staff, and also many parents, siblings, and a few pets, they made a concerted effort to raise funds and awareness. These are just a few examples, the list of things our students do to help others in both our local and our greater community is much too long to fit in this column.

There is no doubt in my mind that the lessons our students learn from being involved in these acts of kindness and generosity are every bit as important as their academic subjects. And there is another, equally valuable lesson they learn–that they can make a difference. Our students are learning that their contribution makes a difference, and that by working together they can overcome difficult obstacles. These are all lessons we hope will last a lifetime, and that we as parents can help to teach our children by modeling these actions.#