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2002-2003
Final Report
In our current
culture, activities that encourage students to identify and set
goals with positive values are extremely valuable. The Laws of
Life essay program attempts to fill a gap in ethical reflection
and goal setting that exists in our public schools.
In 2002-2003 SEE administered its third Laws of Life essay
program. This year, approximately 4,500 students across
Connecticut wrote about their “laws of life” – the values and
ideals by which we live – that transcend religions, cultures
and national borders.
The Laws of Life program provides students in grades 5-12 with a chance to discover, reflect and write about the core values that can guide them throughout their lives. It also gives students an incentive to engage in a writing experience that is both personally and academically meaningful, encourages schools and local organizations to work together in a positive way for students and gives communities an opportunity to honor and recognize young people for expressing their values.
SEE introduced the Laws of Life program in Connecticut during the 2000-2001 school year with a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. Laws of Life was created in 1987 by financier and philanthropist Sir John Templeton. Each year more than 80,000 students around the world write Laws of Life essays.
In 2002-2003 students in public, private and parochial schools in urban and suburban areas throughout Connecticut wrote Laws of Life essays. Most participants were middle school students. A school for non-hearing students participated in the program this year, the first such school to participate in Laws of Life anywhere in the world.
As in previous years, each participating school in SEE’s Laws of Life program selected a coordinator who engaged other teachers and their students in the program and involved the community in judging, supporting and celebrating the student essayists. The top two essays from each school were entered into a statewide competition organized and administered by SEE. A distinguished panel of judges from throughout the state evaluated the essays.
In their essays, the 10 students who were chosen as statewide winners shared their laws of life. The 10 students whose essays were selected as statewide winners were honored at an awards ceremony held during Connecticut's Asset’s Based Character Education Conference on May 1. These students wrote about laws of life that included helping those who are less fortunate, loving yourself, appreciation, friendship, perseverance, determination, not judging other people, stretching yourself, respect and self-reliance.
Each student received a U.S. savings bond donated by New Haven Savings Bank Foundation and a gift certificate donated by Bob’s Stores. Bigelow Tea provided gifts for teachers and school contest coordinators who attended the event with the student winners. Two of the students inspired the audience by reading their essays. Following the ceremony, the student winners, teachers and/or program coordinators and parents participated in a discussion led by SEE staff about Laws of Life and heard the winning essays.
SEE’s evaluations of Laws of Life have documented a number of positive benefits for students and teachers participating in the program. Among these have been advancing a vision for character development, promoting excellence in writing and fostering a sense of community by encouraging dialogue between students and adults regarding shared values. Students and teachers participating in Laws of Life this year made the following comments:
“Our school found that the program was invaluable, in terms of directing children to think about themselves and others. The impact that the curriculum had on my students, as well as on me, cannot be fully articulated.”
— School contest coordinator
“This contest created an avenue for going beyond the walls of the classroom to involve non-teaching staff, parents and community members in supporting student writers.”
— School contest coordinator
“It showed me how to live my life.”
— Middle school student
The Laws of Life program had many accomplishments in 2002-2003. The program received recognition as an approved activity by the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents and the Connecticut Association of Schools. Although it was not possible to provide schools with prize money for their local essay contest, most schools were able to award prizes with donations from parent-teacher associations, local businesses and service clubs.
In spite of funding challenges, SEE was able to maintain a significant level of student participation, fine-tune program administration, improve the criteria for judging essays, provide additional technical assistance to participating schools and develop more useful evaluation tools. In addition, SEE developed relationships with organizations, such as Rotary International, that have helped disseminate information about the Laws of Life program. To accommodate non-hearing students who entered the statewide contest, SEE was able to enlist a non-hearing judge.
The essays of two students, which were among the top ten essays in SEE’s statewide contest in 2001-2003, were selected for publication in a book that was published in 2003 entitled “Teen Ink: What Matters.” The two essays were chosen from thousands of Laws of Life essays from around the world.
The commitment and dedication to Laws of Life on the part of school coordinators, school administrators, judges and others have undoubtedly contributed to the success of SEE’s Laws of Life program. Given the success of Laws of Life in Connecticut, The School for Ethical Education maintains its commitment to the program and believes that all young people deserve the opportunity to write and reflect on their “laws of life.” To that end, SEE will continue its efforts in seeking long-term funding for Laws of Life.
Further Program Information
2008-2009 Program:
General Information:
Previous Year's Programs
(2008-2000)
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