Most of us probably know that school gardens are a great teaching tool that can be used to enrich curriculum and improve physical health, but we believe in gardens as a way to grow character.  We see this everyday in our garden.

We see children sharing, working hard, and being kind. We watch kids grow responsibility as well as vegetables. We see kids engaged, excited, motivated, and proud of their school.  We watch as kids make connections between their school, their community, and the planet.

New research published by the Royal Horticulture Society (and who knows gardening better!) shows that as well as helping children lead happier, healthier lives, gardening “helps them acquire the essential skills they need to fulfill their potential in a rapidly-changing world and make a positive contribution to society as a whole.”

In fact, evidence suggests that gardening can play such a vital role that we believe every child should be given the chance to experience the benefits. So we will be sharing what we’ve learned along the way- how to start and maintain a school garden, how gardens create opportunities to embed character education principles, and what kids, teachers, and families have to say about gardening at the 18th National Forum on Character Education.

Our presentation “Where Gardens Grow Character”  on Friday, Oct. 21 at 2:15 will include opportunities to share your school garden stories and you’ll walk away with: a list of gardening resources we’ve found helpful; a bibliography of garden research; and a hand made memento from our beloved garden.

Please join us!  Because gardening in schools is a necessity.

Posted by Susi Jones, Tricia Elisara, Nancy Younce, Julian Elementary School, a 2010 National School of Character

Printer Friendly

It is interesting, therefore, to study the words that are spoken on these historic occasions. What messages come across? What themes can we promote to future graduates? You will be hard pressed to find a graduation speech that extols the wisdom of achieving fame and wealth. Despite America’s ambitious and capitalistic nature, when it comes down to these defining moments in our lives, we stop to think about the qualities of life that really matter—things like being kind to others, respecting and valuing different opinions, being open to new experiences throughout your life—in general finding a way forward on the path to happiness.

Once you get past the obligatory references to late nights with too much alcohol, the endless opportunities open to new graduates, and the need to step back from social media every now and then—and even this year’s favorite theme: overcoming fear (fear of the future, fear of the job market, fear of progressing in life)—this year’s notable graduation speakers focused on how to get fulfillment out of life.

Despite their fame, speakers Denzel Washington, Amy Poehler and Tom Hanks did not encourage a focus on gathering fame and wealth. Rather, they emphasized going after what you’re passionate about, collaborating with others, and persevering in the face of failures. Poehler discussed the importance of finding a good group of people to work with and learn from: “You can’t do it alone. As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration….Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you.” By helping others, you learn and grow with them and some day those very same people will be able to help you on the way.

Other speakers (known more for their scholarly efforts) such as Thomas Freidman and Robert Krulwich followed a similar vein, while encouraging a connection to the wider world. The importance of working together with others spills over and affects a larger community. By being involved in your own efforts with others, you help to create chains of kindness that can stretch around the globe. Professor Robert Cargill shared some things he’d learned “over the past 18 years that may help you in your next 18 years…Say thank you. Be gracious. There is an Arab saying which says: ‘Blessed is the one who can say thank you in a thousand languages.’” He went on to thank his own college coaches, who taught him “not only…to play baseball, but how to compete with character and confidence in life.”

Even without years of wisdom, one graduating student boiled his thoughts down to this goal of happiness: “Happy people get what they want because often happy people are the ones who realize they don’t need much more than they already have and they appreciate what they’ve already got” (Chris Sacca, Univ. of Minnesota’s School of Management).

These ongoing efforts to work with others and find happiness prove just one thing—you never graduate from learning and demonstrating good character. This life-long endeavor is best summed up in the words of Denzel Washington speaking at UPenn: “Be open to life, to accept new views, be open to new opinions…because the chances you take, the people you meet, the people you love, the faith that you have, that’s what’s going to define you.”

Printer Friendly