Service-Learning

Over fifty percent of high school and university students across the country are required to participate in one or more service-learning projects as part of their graduation requirements. What is service-learning? The National Youth Leadership Council states:

Service-learning is a teaching method that enriches learning by engaging students in meaningful service to their schools and communities. Young people apply academic skills to solving real-world issues, linking established learning objectives with genuine needs. They lead the process, with adults as partners, applying critical thinking and problem-solving skills to concerns such as hunger, pollution, and diversity:

“service-learning is education in action"

Former Senator John Glenn went so far as to say “service-learning is education in action” and his statement reflects the philosophy behind service-learning: education in its most basic form is not enough if students are unable to apply the knowledge gained through education in the real world.

The success of Forum for Democracy’s manuals can be directly attributed to service-learning. These manuals provide a turnkey set of lesson plans that teachers can utilize to effectively teach students about the United States Constitution. These service-learning components more effectively engage the students and enable them to apply the philosophical principles found in the Constitution to issues in the real world today. Each year Chief Justice, Sovereign Citizen and Head of State are used by more than 300,000 students at 1,700 high schools and colleges nationwide.

Forum for Democracy is itself a service-learning platform, making it an appealing way for teachers and students to complete their service-learning requirements. Students are encouraged to upload video of their service-learning project to the Forum and promote their causes while giving credit to their teachers, schools and non-profit organizations that sponsor them.