Learning From Each Other

Advisor

Deanna Freober, M. DIv
Director, CASTLES Program
Center for Health Services

The most important aspect of any worthwhile positive effort is service to others. This is why our project is significantly focused on community outreach. In order to definitively impact society in a positive manner, we want to create not only an acute impact, but also a lasting one. Therefore, we believe education is the mechanism by which we can create a wholesome, lasting effect on the overall community. However, education in itself is not successful unless the material covered is both germane to the students’ experiences and also passionate for the teacher. Thus, as a group, we are forced to choose topics that we are all truly passionate in – topics that can actually affect our students. The topics we are passionate in are related to science, economics, and sociology. Thus, our chosen topics will include health and safety, economic management, social-interpersonal interactions and relationships,among many others.

For our project, the student community that we have chosen is contained within the Nashville community. We feel as if we share a close bond with the Nashville student community, and we wish to cement that bond for years to come. Also, we have chosen students  in urban public schools. We believe these students do not have as great of an opportunity to become appropriately educated, and we wish to help fill this education void. This void is extraordinarily visible in Tennessee. According to the Tennessee Department of Education School-Level Impact Measures(http://www.tn .gov/educationlschoolhealthlhlthprofile/08/doc/2008 SLIMs report. pdt), only 5 I percent of schools (through grades 6 to 9) addressed the differences between mv and AIDS; how mv and other STDs are transmitted;the influence of media, family, and social and cultural norms on sexual behavior; and other health and safety criteria. Also, only 25 percent of schools have various groups that help plan and implement school programs, such as mental health and social services, nutrition or food service, physical education, and others. These are astounding figures. We feel as if it is absolutely necessary to fill this education void,and we would like to help in that effort.