Eleanor Roosevelt stated: "In a democratic society we must live cooperatively, and serve the community in which we live, to the best of our ability. For our own success to be real, it must contribute to the success of others."

Today, high schools throughout the U.S. are bringing meaning to these words as they are offer opportunities for service learning.

In 1997 the California Superintendent of Public Instruction convened a service learning task force to envision "an education for all students where knowledge and participation intersect to engage youth as vital community members."

Five years later, California and most other states have curriculum objectives for high school students that focus on service learning.

Key elements for implementing service learning education include:

Student understanding of their role as citizens in a democratic society.

Student appreciation that every community has needs that are often unmet and the need to learn how to identify those needs.

Developing an ethic of providing service to others and to the community.

Understanding that working with others as a team is often an effective way of addressing issues and solving community problems.

Student reflection on service experiences and on the effect those experiences have on the lives of those served.

It is exciting to see high school students now have ongoing opportunities for service learning as part of their high school experience. Many states now include required service learning volunteer hours as part of high school graduation.

A significant result of this educational focus is that the Millennials, the name given to this current generation of students, are making significant and sustained contributions to projects and programs in cities and communities throughout the United States.

Truly, today's service learning in America's high schools is helping build Kids of Character who understand through real life experience the visionary words of Voltaire, "I know of no great man except those who have rendered great services to the human race."

Russell Williams is president of Passkeys Foundation~Jefferson Center for Character Education. For more information contact (949) 770-7602 or www.jeffersoncenter.org.