Contribute

After working on community and education this week, the one word that keeps coming to mind is contribute. I feel that in order to get a strong community built inside education there needs to be contributions from everyone in and out of the school. While reading Block’s book, I really connected with the specific word gifts. I think that the word gifts fits into my concept of contributing. Other words that connect with my idea of what contributing is would be language, and connections. All three words gifts, language and connection branch off of contributing, which to me is very important for a community in education.

To contribute simply means to give something in order to achieve or provide something. I think that the best thing a community can do in order to build their educational system is to contribute their “gifts”. I formed my ideas about this through the philosophy of John McKnight. I think that it is SO important for people to share their talents or if you will “gifts” to better their community and education. Positive input and ideas are what take us to better places and strengthen our community and education. Why focus on someone’s’ deficiencies rather than ones gifts? Having negative attitudes with not help any situation, it’s the gifts and talents that create great outcomes. Bringing your gifts to the floor is in sense contributing.

Another thing that I think is important to bring to the table is language. This meaning speaking, listening and conversation. I have based this idea off of another philosophy that I read in Block’s book. This philosophy belongs to Erhard. In order to contribute two VERY important aspects are people listening and speaking to one another, which creates a conversation. The community needs to build relationships with others who are all working towards one goal. In this case that means bettering the community and education. Listening to people’s different ideas, accepting them and considering them is one step in the right direction. Communication is a main key to get things rolling and working together with others. With this, people can work together and work off of one another’s ideas and brainstorm. It is true; two heads are better than one.

Lastly, I think that in order to build a strong community, one needs to make connections. The teachers need to make connections with their students, with parents; the faculty needs to become known to the parents, and also the businesses around the school. As I read my article “Building a Strong Community Partnership” by Carl Vogel, he kept stating how making connections with the business around you are VERY important. I found this very interesting and didn’t really know what he meant or why connections would be important with them until I read in depth what he thought. I now realize that business could be helpful to schools, for example help with fundraisers and with that in mind, if you go to the business with a direct goal for the fundraiser they are more willing to except and help out. The more people on a committee for the school, the more ideas, the better the future for that school.

Overall. I think that contributing is a main key in expanding and bettering the community and education. The more people that can get involved the better.