To support the development of these goals, Lewisburg, one of the K-8 schools in Logan County, has created opportunities for students to engage in both exploratory programs to gain access to different experts and community members, as well as the ability to conduct their own passion projects to explore ideas of interest and solve problems they find important.
As I spoke with middle school students about school, many of them shared about the Ranger Academy, where all students were given the choice to choose topics of interest to explore further.
Students shared various student-led projects they had completed. One group put on a fundraiser to raise money for Ally, a student in the school who needed money for a health condition. Three girls put together a program called New Kids on the Block to ensure each new student had a person to connect and sit with at lunch along with a welcome bag of goodies to make them feel a part of the community. Another group saw a need for their teachers’ desks and workspaces to be more organized, and worked alongside their teachers to build organizers.
Although they acknowledged that sometimes it can be hard to collaborate with others, and it can take a while to create a project, they learned more than just the content of their work. They enjoyed learning about the process, working from their strengths, seeing new perspectives, and above all, engaging in personally meaningful work addressing real challenges in their community.
Paul Mullins, Superintendent of Logan County schools shared with me, “We aren’t just creating students, we are creating better citizens.” I couldn’t agree more with his statement. In speaking with these students, it was evident that they are already equipped to work productively to make our communities and world a better place.
