What makes a child want to be a leader?

These survey results, reported in the Washington Post, raise some questions for those of us in the youth development business to contemplate. I look forward to reading more about the survey. The article made me wonder about us.

• When we were kids, did we aspire to be leaders when we grew up?
  
• Did we even think about leadership then?
• Or, were we already leaders, but without consciousness and sophistication?
• Are kids today turned off by responsibility, the style of leadership they see, the complexity of the problems in the world -- or have they just never considered the topic?
  
• Or, are they just not developmentally ready to contemplate leadership?

Read the article and tell me what you think.

Leaders of tomorrow reject role? - Washington Post- msnbc.com

A new nationwide survey of girls and boys found that a majority of children and youths in the United States have little or no interest with achieving leadership roles when they become adults, ranking "being a leader" behind other goals such as "fitting in," "making a lot of money" and "helping animals or the environment."

Discovering Community Service

"The thing that stood out the most was the kids. I say the kids because they were cool and I actually enjoyed being with them. I thought community service was something boring, but my experience shows me that it's not. It makes me want to do more community service."- D.W., Age 16

On March 15, 2008, McKee After Three's Youth Council and Man-Up groups volunteered at the Staten Island Children's Museum Spring Eggstravaganza. The volunteers helped with a variety of activities including making arts and crafts projects with children and their families such as egg decorating, face painting and temporary tattoos, and hosting games and activities like egg relays, family photos and more.

The McKee After Three volunteers all reported they had a great time at the event and genuinely enjoyed volunteering. Man-Up group facilitator Carl Jackman, and Youth Council facilitator, Carolyn Starkey, said the volunteers were enthusiastic and throughout the day and discovered a new love of community service.

The students were asked to write about their experience - what stood out the most and whether their view of community service has changed. Below are some of their reflections and a slideshow of the day:

"The thing that stood out to me the most about Saturday's community service was the kids because the kids were funny and they are good. I feel like a kid too. It was good because it could help me to get a career and it helps me be a man." -T.A., Age 16

"The thing that stood out to me the most about Saturday's community service was how we handled our job in the best way possible and how we made sure the kids had a good, fun day. We can bring joy to people's lives and I can help my community." - J.R.- Age 16

"The thing that stood out to me the most about Saturday's community service was how much fun I had because playing with the kids made me feel better about myself and reminded me I was there to do something good. I learned that not all community service is picking up garbage and cleaning parks. When I found out that I was working with kids, I thought they were going to be annoying but I was wrong and had fun." - J.W.- Age 17

"The thing that stood out to me the most about Saturday's community service was the hundreds of kids who showed up because we did not see the same kids over and over unless they stayed. I learned community service is not always cleaning up something and being bored but that you can have fun by helping little kids have fun."- A.R., Age 17

WAVE students visit Wagner College

On Thursday, March 13^th the WAVE program had a fun-filled day visiting Wagner College. Students from Ralph R. Mckee & Curtis High School were greeted by the Provost in the Union Atrium. They enjoyed the picturesque view of the Verrazano Bridge before embarking on a tour of Wagner College’s beautiful campus, the dorms, and athletic center.

The Associate Director & Director of Co-Curricular Programs joined us in Spiro Hall’s lecture hall to welcome the students with gifts and plenty of information on admissions & financial aid. We ended our tour in the Hawk’s Nest with snacks and informative conversation from some of Wagner College’s undergraduate students.

After the tour, the students were treated to dinner at the Roadhouse Restaurant, where they enjoyed each others company & great food!

Note: WAVE is the NY Center's Work Achievement, Values, and Education Leadership Institute which offers high school students at four Staten Island schools the opportunity and support to explore colleges and careers, master work readiness skills, and gain leadership experience.

Adult Education Computer Courses Free at McKee

Free Adult Education

Do you want to learn computers for FREE?

We are offering FREE technology classes in Staten Island

The New York City Department of Education, Office of Adult and Continuing Education offers technology evening courses for adults twenty-one and older at McKee High School

Learn computers in one of four different computer classes:

• Computer Literacy
• Word Processing/ Keyboarding
• IC3
• Internet/ Desktop Publishing

OR

• Basic Automotive Service

When: Classes meet TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Where: Ralph R. McKee Career and Technical High School

290 St. Marks Place, Staten Island, New York 10301

CALL TO REGISTER: 718-420-2697

Pew Report Finds More than One in 100 Adults are Behind Bars

Seems like it's time to revisit our policies and budget priorities.

Pew Report Finds More than One in 100 Adults are Behind Bars:
"The report points out the necessity of locking up violent and repeat offenders, but notes that prison growth and higher incarceration rates do not reflect a parallel increase in crime, or a corresponding surge in the nation’s population at large. Instead, more people are behind bars principally because of a wave of policy choices that are sending more lawbreakers to prison and, through popular “three-strikes” measures and other sentencing laws, imposing longer prison stays on inmates.

As a result, states’ corrections costs have risen substantially. Twenty years ago, the states collectively spent $10.6 billion of their general funds—their primary discretionary dollars—on corrections. Last year, they spent more than $44 billion in general funds, a 315 percent jump, and more than $49 billion in total funds from all sources. Coupled with tightening state budgets, the greater prison expenditures may force states to make tough choices about where to spend their money. For example, Pew found that over the same 20-year period, inflation-adjusted general fund spending on corrections rose 127 percent while higher education expenditures rose just 21 percent."