EAST is a project based learning program centered on working with the local communities and the projects are designed to benefit the school and/or the community in some way. Some of the projects are pretty simple, maybe simply raising awareness of local issues and others get very technologically advanced. One school made national news this year by designing and building a prosthetic leg for a duck, (the same school also is working on a better helmet to protect a special needs student in the school, but national news didn’t pick up on that sadly). Several projects this year worked with law enforcement to aid them in some way, others are designing computer programs to help children with cognitive issues learn more efficiently. The range of projects are huge every year and the students working on them are everything from at risk students, or honor students, to geeks and athletes.
All that long winded introduction is to say this, the conference this year was attended by a few thousand students, and I saw every shade of color and every ethnic background you can imagine. There were students representing the rich schools and from schools with over 90% poverty rate. I saw third and fourth grade students proudly discussing their projects with junior and senior students who were not only listening, but interested. As you walked by the projects, students would actively engage the adults (“Would you like to hear about our projects?”), shake their hand and begin talking if you would listen. I saw more respect given young to old (and vice versa) then the news would ever let you think still exists. The required dress code was business professional and every student, boy or girl, met that code and met it well.
What I didn’t see was a single student walk out for a 17 minute protest. They weren’t walking because they were too busy talking. Talking to adults, to each other, exchanging ideas on how to benefit their school, their community, and their world. There is where the real difference is being made.
Your a good man.
The Rock
