Dawn breaks late in the valley east of Gannett House on a December morning. At 7:40, a lone figure arrives at The Barn in early twilight. Sheep need to be fed, and this morning is Coco's turn, as a community service.
With all that goes on at this complicated school, with all of its experiential programs and support structures, community service is certainly under-recognized. It comes in so many forms: advisee activities, class projects, team volunteerism, fundraisers, student-initiated service at the elementary school and structured programs ( Proctor Environmental Action!) that are critical to school function. The Green Key program employs seventy-five to one hundred volunteers who sacrifice precious "free" blocks in their busy schedules to provide approximately five hundred tours to visiting families.
This is important: we're not satisfied with community service. In faculty meeting discussions, teachers lament that more time is not dedicated to giving back, that more meaningful work projects are not obvious to others, that not every student serves (although many argue that they do, through advisee dish duties, etc.) These students, painting the doors to the Fowler Learning Center integrate service into their afternoon activity.
Several students have designed projects involving after-school activities at Andover Elementary & Middle School. These little kids are getting some expert advice on Legos.
The local seventh and eighth grade girls' basketball team receives coaching support from Taylre.
In recent faculty discussion of the topic, one teacher said, "It's my challenge to see how I can integrate service into my curriculum." In similar spirit, girls' varsity basketball raised money for gifts for needy local children. Here, amidst pizza and Snapple, they are wrap stars.
While some lament the lack of time that would enable a universal work program, others point out that the existing system (in typical Proctor fashion) provides ultimate flexibility for students to truly volunteer, and to serve at a level that complements other demands of student life that change from term to term.
Three years ago, PAPA (Proctor Academy Parent Association) raised money to provide holiday gifts to faculty. Last year, in response to the devastation of the Gulf Coast, they made a gift in honor of Proctor teachers to a prominent relief agency. This year, continuing the notion of giving in honor of faculty by supporting others, PAPA acted locally, and gifted $500 to Andover Elementary and Middle School. The money is to be distributed to the families of kids in need. Merry Christmas.
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