Evansville adds senior project to high school grad requirements
Reader poll
EVANSVILLE — Kelsey Hoverson had planned to attend Iowa State to major in engineering after graduating from Evansville High School last spring.
She changed her plans after working with special education students in a pilot program for a senior graduation project. She'll start at UW-Eau Claire this fall to major in special education.
"It really helped me set my mind on doing special education as my future career," she said.
School administrators and board members hope Hoverson's experience is one of many in a new senior project requirement. The board gave unanimous approval this week to require incoming freshman—the class of 2015—to complete a senior project to graduate.
"The whole idea was we wanted to kind of create an opportunity for a capstone learning opportunity for students," Principal Scott Everson said.
The district took advice from Brodhead, where seniors are required to do 20 hours of community service to graduate.
Brodhead has "kind of a hidden treasure," Everson said, because students year after year produce projects for the community and provide services while receiving "priceless learning opportunities."
"We'd be remiss if we, in Evansville and other communities, didn't want to do that as well," he said.
Students will choose between two paths: community service or experiential learning, which is learning about something of which they have no prior knowledge. The project requires 30 hours of documented time outside of a normal school day.
Brodhead's program has provided a "tremendous amount" of support for the community—from planting flowers to leading organizations to fundraising, Brodhead Principal Leonard Lueck said.
Last year, seniors raised more than $10,000 through their projects for various needs, while the previous class raised $18,000, he said.
Each Evansville student will find a mentor and obtain signatures from teachers, parents and advisers and meet deadlines. Students will prepare portfolios and give presentations before a panel of community members and teachers.
The school will expand the pilot project this year to work out any kinks with voluntary students, Everson said.
School board members had concerns about costs, but Everson said he and his staff are confident they can do it with existing resources.
"Part of the philosophy behind the senior projects is we don't want this to involve extra expenses for students," he said.
If a student's project was to help remodel a day care center, for example, the contract would state that the business would provide supplies and the student would not be compensated financially.
"We want to groom our students to become productive citizens, and part of that process is teaching students the value of that service to the community," he said.
Having been through the pilot project, Hoverson said the experience was eye opening and will be the same for students who take the time to do the project right.
"I think that other students will gain a lot of knowledge about themselves and their community through this project," she said.
Aug 18, 2011 at 5:17 p.m.
Suggest removal
And they "are required to do homework outside of school hours." How is this any different? For Pete's sake! No one is forcing anyone's child onto a chain gang.
Aug 18, 2011 at 4:04 p.m.
Suggest removal
"They play sports, compete in forensics, sing in showchoir, act in plays and travel to "away" games outside of school hours. "
.
Last I checked, these were all ELECTIVE activities...students themselves decide to participate in these events.
Aug 18, 2011 at 4 p.m.
Suggest removal
Also Kelsey I would not want to be a teacher in the State of Wisconsin. Go where you are appreciated.
Aug 18, 2011 at 3:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
Kelsey I am glad you feel it worked for you. However you were not forced you truly volunteered to do this. There is a big difference in what you did, and what these incoming kids are going to be required to do.
You did not have to do this project as part of a graduation requirement. Big difference.
Aug 18, 2011 at 12:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
So, how will you handle it for the rural kids who ride a bus and have limited availability for transportation outside of school hours?
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:31 a.m.
Suggest removal
The Senior Projects program has been positive for almost all of our participating seniors in Brodhead. But, we had naysayers here, too, when it was first proposed. Consider this: your children are required to do homework outside of school hours. That does not make them endentured servants to the school district. It makes them students. They play sports, compete in forensics, sing in showchoir, act in plays and travel to "away" games outside of school hours. Asking them to complete a Senior Project outside of school hours is just another homework assignment that they are expected to complete on their own time. While we can always find something to gripe about, this program is a wonderful way to teach our teens to think beyond themselves and the latest high school drama that is swirling around them or the newest video game. And that's a very good thing.
Aug 18, 2011 at 9:31 a.m.
Suggest removal
Hi I am Kelsey Hoverson. And for those of you that feel that this is forced volunteerism; it really wasn't. This is something I CHOSE to do. Working for the school was an option that I chose. There is an infinite amount of projects a student could do; a student could choose to put together a sports camps for youth, or raise money throughout the year for the community, or organized city clean-ups. There are really so many options that this project can fit anyone's interests. I easily exceeded my 30 hours of service by working for almost two and half hours Monday through Friday from second term all the way to fourth term. Yes this program is new to our school, but there are schools where this has been required for years. As with all new programs, it has flaws that will be fixed as everyone learns together.
Also, the teachers that are mentors, will not let this hold our students back from graduation. I was able to talk to mentor and with Mr. Everson whenever I needed help. Staff members want to see all students succeed and will encourage students to find a project they will WANT to complete and will enjoy.
Kelsey Hoverson
Aug 18, 2011 at 7:16 a.m.
Suggest removal
Some folks can be negative about everything. To me it sounds like a GREAT program. I worked really hard for fifty five years and did a lot of volunteer work during my working life. Now as a retired person I volunteer more. Working was fun, but volunteering is more fun.
Aug 18, 2011 at 6:21 a.m.
Suggest removal
I think it is a great idea! The idea of a mentor for a student is another great idea. Both will gain from the experience. Free labor? No, there are too many kids that do not know how to work! Is it punishing the masses? No, it is being phased into the school. The kids already volunteering will just find a new project and they are only doing 30 hours. That is not too long of time. 3 hours for 10 weeks. It makes the kids stay at something and give it an honest try. There are lots of groups that would love to have a young person to aid in their many projects. Young people have lots of energy, harness it and go for it!
Aug 17, 2011 at 10:49 p.m.
Suggest removal
I wish she would reconsider. We need more engineers in our country!
Aug 17, 2011 at 8:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
This is a great opportunity for kids to truly focus on community issues.
Aug 17, 2011 at 8:02 p.m.
Suggest removal
I am all for volunteering as well, but that is the point it is volunteer not required. To require it, and outside of school hours is not acceptable to me. Will this requirement pass a lawsuit if one should be filed? The state only requires X number of hours to be in school, so how would this be a legal thing if they require outside hours to accomplish it? not trying to be smart a$$ about it I really would like to know.
*
My daughter easily already puts in hundreds of hours each year through her involvement with 4H. She preforms community service and works with outreach programs to youth. It is her choice to do so and I think that it is great. But to end up forcing a kid to do something like that to graduate, may just make them not want to volunteer at all when they get older...it needs to be a freedom of choice not a requirement IMO
Aug 17, 2011 at 7:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
creativework, the volunteer students in the pilot program will be current juniors or seniors. It won't become mandatory until this year's freshmen reach senior year. --Gina Duwe, Gazette reporter
Aug 17, 2011 at 6:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
The school will expand the pilot project this year to work out any kinks with voluntary students, Everson said... What voluntary student? I thought this was required. I hope the school board holds Mr.Everson and staff's feet to the fire about not going over budget or asking for extra money for this.
Aug 17, 2011 at 6:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
I think this is teaching responsibility something the young folks of today have very little if none. It is thirty hours really, is not that much to ask from a student. Some spend more than that in detention so really people, get a grip its trying to teach them about work and our community I think it is a great idea.
Aug 17, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.
Suggest removal
Sounds like free labor to me.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.