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As a former educator at both the high school and college level, I have seen the stark difference in success rates between students who have the support of their families as they learn and those who unfortunately do not. By support, I don't just mean regular reminders to study or encouragement for achieving good grades, although that undoubtedly helps. I also mean support at the life lesson level, in which students get to see how the adults in their lives engage with the same subjects they are studying in school. For example, students may be taught financial literacy in the classroom, but if they live in a household that doesn't budget or save, they are unlikely to retain or even believe those lessons. This makes it far more likely that they will instead continue the multigenerational cycle of poverty that affects thousands of families across Pennsylvania, including one out of every four families right here in Williamsport.
Part of breaking this cycle involves taking an active interest in learning itself. After all, longstanding habits don't change without a willingness to identify problems, try new things, test what works, and adopt new approaches. Organizations like Remake Learning understand the transformative power of family learning, which is why they host Remake Learning Days, an annual festival of nearly 900 hands-on, family-friendly learning events all across Pennsylvania. By offering so many different opportunities for families to learn together, they invite children and adults to embrace the idea of learning as a lifelong experience -- and this new way of thinking can have a major impact on how kids and families grow.
In our region, Remake Learning Days events will give children and families the chance to attend a "block party" where they'll get to build with LEGO and MAGNA-TILES, explore the amazing nature of Rider Park, learn all about public transit including a tour of a working bus, get an inside look at the Makerspace at Penn College, and much more. In partnership with Career Ready PA, these events will also introduce them to a wide variety of potential career opportunities, including many jobs they may not even have known existed. By attending Remake Learning Days events at locations ranging from libraries and museums to nature preserves and workplaces, kids also get plenty of chances to ask questions from working professionals, which helps them understand the skills and requirements they'll need to pursue different career paths.
Setting those expectations is a crucial part of preparing for success in a career field, but so is exploring a variety of options. When I was growing up, my parents certainly established high expectations for me academically, but they also encouraged me to take part in many different activities from sports to theater so I could discover which paths felt right for my interests and skills. As I tried my hand at different things, I became better able to relate to people from different backgrounds because I found we always had something in common. That versatility helped me build my confidence, and it also inspired me to dedicate my life to serving others because I recognized that communities truly thrive when they have access to the support they need.
In Williamsport, we apply this same line of thinking to our public events. For example, when we launched our Community Recognition campaign, local grocery stores were happy to sponsor the event with gift cards that we could hand out as gifts to homeowners with fresh-cut grass and clean properties, which encourages responsible home maintenance that benefits the entire neighborhood. And if we see a property that needs a little extra TLC, we can connect them with our city's home rehab specialists or other services. Meanwhile, if we host a community event, we also invite local employers to set up information booths for potential job seekers and regional partners like UPMC to provide free health screenings for attendees. By creating a fun and welcoming environment, our hope is to engage the entire family and make sure they can connect with the services they need to live happy, healthy lives. However, we also know that spending time together as a family is a lesson all its own, and one that we can never have too many opportunities to enjoy.
As these examples show, while education and encouragement often happen in the classroom, it doesn't have to stay there. In fact, it has the greatest impact when it comes to life outside of school. This is especially true for foundational life lessons that can affect whole families or even entire communities. From community events to Remake Learning Days, the families in our region have many opportunities to explore new ways of thinking, learning, and doing. By taking these steps together, I believe that we can all learn new lessons, including new ways to create future success no matter where you come from, what challenges you face, or what dreams motivate you to keep learning, all throughout life.
Derek Slaughter currently serves as the mayor of Williamsport and previously taught math at Williamsport Area High School and was an adjunct professor at the Pennsylvania College of Technology