Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 22 : Fall 2014 | Page 32

Ask Not What Your
County Can Do for You
By Sandra Gauvin

When President John F. Kennedy challenged the citizens
of our great country to “Ask Not What Your Country Can
Do for You, Ask What You Can Do for Your Country” in
his inaugural address on January 20, 1961, he was referring
to the importance of community service. So why would he
think that community service is important?
People sometimes get the terms “community service” and
“service learning” confused. Community service is loosely
defined as a volunteer action that helps the community
and/or its residents. Service learning involves more of
a connection with the schools. Students go into the
community and do volunteer work, but it is tied into their
school learning as well.
Let’s consider how community service can help our kids
and our economy and how can tying community service
into service learning can help kids become better students.
What exactly are the benefits of Community service projects
to…
… Schools?
• Schools are seen as resources to the community, helping
to build support for the schools
• Students are more engaged in their education and their
community
• Community members become partners with schools in
educating students
• Student achievement is improved
• Education is revitalized
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• Schools become more connected to their communities
… Students?
• Student achievement is improved
• Students are more engaged in their education and their
community
• Students learn more readily because they are learning
by doing
• Service learning can enhance personal development in
areas such as self-esteem, moral reasoning, social skills,
communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and
concern for others and society.
• Students gain positive visibility and exposure to the
community and businesses
• Involvement in service learning makes the subject
matter in school real and relevant for students as they
try out their knowledge and skills
• Education is revitalized
• When young people serve others, they can see that they
are valued and can make a real difference
• As young people discover their own abilities to address
issues, they are empowered to become active citizens
and communities begin to see them in a different light
• Young people learn leadership skills as they take
responsibility for designing and implementing service
experiences
• As is stated in the Performance Indicators & Descriptors
Performance Indicators and Descriptors of the Maine
Learning Results
• Students learn to share ideas
• Students learn to listen to the ideas of others