On student councils and international competition ...

As the K-12 education reporter, I often find myself debating with folks about the quality of American education in comparison to other countries.
I've heard dozens of anecdotes from educators and teachers who have been to China, Japan, Germany and others, and have returned with stories of factory-like students marching through a regimented 10-hour school day before coming home to enthusiastically renew their studies before dinner. And we've all read the reports of American students lagging behind their international peers in everything from reading and math to science and engineering.
I can't debate the accuracy of those reports. But what I can debate is the fact that American education includes more than education - and that's significant.
On Tuesday, the Mankato East Student Council held its fall blood drive. Council members organized a small army of nurses and cots, brought in boxes of doughnuts and cases of bottled water, and set a goal to collect 110 units of blood.
But the interesting thing is that Tuesday's blood drive is only the first of two drives the Council in sponsoring this year. Because East's National Honor Society decided to focus its service projects elsewhere this year, the Council made the decision to continue the spring blood drive themselves (which is normally sponsored by the Honor Society).
That one decision could save dozens of lives. And it illustrates a broader understanding of what's important to a community.
The point is this: In American schools, education goes beyond reading, writing and 'rithmetic. In this hyper-standardized and assessment-heavy era of education, it's important that students are taught about the world that lies within arm's reach.
We should all value a competent American student who can compete with the best and brightest on a global scale. But we should also value a student who understands the world outside a textbook.
And while a blood drive won't change the world (well, it might for the patient who needs the transfusion) - it does show that Mankato is teaching its students to value community and the role they can play within it.

Co-worker won't cough in the crook of their arm? Car won't start? Having a poor day? You need heartwarming stories of Mankato students:

- Loyola students remember a fallen friend: http://www.mankatofreepress.com/archivesearch/local_story_044174443.html
- Mankato elementary students brighten the holidays: http://www.mankatofreepress.com/archivesearch/local_story_352220315.html
- Mankato soccer jerseys travel the globe: http://www.mankatofreepress.com/archivesearch/local_story_025220340.html

Red means student generosity

I got to work Friday morning and found my little, red voicemail light was on. Such discoveries often bring a lump to my throat knowing that, behind that light, there is often an angry reader or an observant one who has caught a mistake in my story. For me, that little red light has come to signify dread and shame.

But Friday's red-light special was of the heartwarming variety. It was a message from Shane Baier, the principal at Mankato East, to let me know the Class of 2009 had made a $100 donation to the ECHO Food Shelf. The interesting thing is, the donations were collected during the actual graduation ceremony. Students received their diplomas and then dropped their dimes and dollars into a donation basket.

As the K-12 education reporter, I come across dozens of such stories.

Covering a story recently about Maud Hart Lovelace fans, I found myself wandering the Betsy House where I stumbled upon a framed letter written by an obviously very young student. Scrawled in somewhat misshaped penmanship, the note said simply that the Betsy-Tacy Society was important and the student council wanted to donate some money.

And that was it. No fanfare. No fancy language. Just an acknowledgement of work well done and a token of financial support.

This blog entry could go for days detailing all the generous efforts of students in this area. Truly, they prove regularly that this country is in good hands.

Consider this an acknowledgement of work well done.