As students in college we are extremely fortunate. We also are extremely lucky to be going to Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Because we are privileged I believe we have an obligation to give back. As Robert Kennedy stated and then Ted Kennedy echoed, “Through no virtues and accomplishments of our own, we have been fortunate enough to be born in the United States under the most comfortable conditions. We, therefore, have a responsibility to others who are less well off.” Today I am writing to propose a new section of the Writing Colleagues Program called the High School Writing Colleagues Program. The HSWC Program would allow for us as Writing Colleagues to use what we have learned from our training and placements and give back to the Geneva community.
How would it work? Writing Colleagues would have the option to work with students in an English class or another writing intensive class from Geneva High School throughout the semester. We would meet weekly with our students at Geneva High School and we would follow the same set up of 15-minute conferences that are centered around questions and getting students to take ownership of their writing. The amount of high school students we would be assigned to would depend on how many Writing Colleagues sign up and how many teachers at Geneva High express interest. It would be more work for us, but it would invaluable community service.
A program like this can be done. Currently, I am a Teaching Assistant of sorts for the class Debating Historical and Philosophical Topics in the Education department. In this class we have set up a blogging project with 5th graders from Romulus Central School where students from HWS and Romulus blog back and fourth every week. Every Thursday I drive to Romulus with members of the class to help the 5th graders work on their blogs. Last year I was in Professor Polak’s Writer’s Seminar where students from one of Geneva’s middle schools came to HWS every week to work on a blogging project. Teachers from local schools are more than willing to participate in these projects because the projects can only help their students with their work. Further, I believe working with college students could give some students the inspiration to attend college if they previously had not planned on attending, especially if their family members did not attend. Creating the HSWC Program would not be extremely difficult.
The High School Writing Colleagues Program would benefit us as well because there is a lot to learn from younger students and it would be a great way to give back. It would also help strengthen the relationship between HWS and the residents of Geneva. Yes, we do give back now as Writing Colleagues to the HWS community but we can do more. The Writing Colleagues Program as constituted is a great program that benefits many students. But there is more work to be done. And do more we must.
What do people think? Would you participate if it were a reality? Do you have any suggestions? Would anyone be interested in setting this program up with me?
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