For the third year running, an elementary school in Ireland is ditching homework for the whole month of December and assigning ‘acts of kindness’ instead.
Each weekday, kids attending Gaescoil Mhichil Ui Choileain, in Clonakilty, are given a kindness task instead of the usual school homework. For instance, on Mondays they have to talk to an elderly person, and on Tuesdays they have to help a family member by taking over a chore. Other acts of kindness include taking care of their own emotional and mental well-being, and random acts of kindness of their choice to brighten the lives of those around them.
Students note down all their acts of kindness in a Kindness Diary, and the school provides also a Kindness Bucket where they can write down and deposit kind and positive thoughts to make each other feel loved and appreciated. These notes are then read aloud at the end of each week, during assembly.
Another initiative is the Class Kindness Act, where whole classes are asked to propose ways in which they can help the community. This Kindness initiative supports the true spirit of Christmas, which is the spirit of being kind, and giving to the others.
What if schools everywhere did similar projects? Wouldn’t it be nice to focus on citizenship and good character, and not just on test prep?
Picture source: Gaelscoil Mhichíl Uí Choileáin Facebook page
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