11/16/98

Tusculum College Class Rebuilds Neighborhood Playground

On November 12, about seventy-five people gathered to dedicate a rebuilt playground at the Family Resource Center on Easterly Drive. Restoring the playground had been one project completed by students in a service-learning course that is part of Tusculum's Commons curriculum. A second project involved four students who taught neighborhood children a song and dance routine. The two projects came together at the dedication ceremony when the children performed what they had learned.

The service-learning "Theory and Practice" course provides a theoretical framework for students to develop their own service-learning projects later in their college careers. Students learn effective strategies for listening to people in communities and designing projects that satisfy those expressed needs.

Before the ceremony, Alice Loftin, professor of English and the instructor for the course reflected on the process. "I invite representatives from several different organizations to talk to the students about what their organizations are trying to accomplish," she said. "The students then choose projects they believe they can accomplish in the three and one-half weeks of the course."

The dedication began with a reading by one of the children, Deron Hackler, followed by remarks from Angelia Rodriguez, director of the Family Resource Center. "We are really fortunate that the students chose to work with us," Rodriguez told the audience. "They have done much more than the ten hours of service they were required to perform, and the product of their work will continue on in the future." Rodriguez also noted that the students learned patience and humility and that "not everything will be as you planned it."

While most of the students were involved in the playground or tutoring project, a small group of students worked with Lori Wright and Sam Crumley, adventure counselors at Holston Home, on a variety of activities outdoors.

Attending the dedication ceremony were Loftin's students and President Robert E. Knott from Tusculum College; about thirty school children from the neighborhood with parents and grandparents; Rodriguez her staff; Earnest Martin, Eddie Jordan, and teachers from Highland School representing Greeneville City Schools; Sean Garay-Leon and Cub Scout Pack 97; and individuals who had made donations to the playground project. The Family Resource Center is an agency of Greeneville City Schools.