Empowering Student Voice and Choice through Service Learning
By Guybe Slangen San Francisco Friends School • San Francisco, CA
“ Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn.”— Benjamin Franklin
In the heart of San Francisco’ s Mission District lies San Francisco Friends School –– a K-8 independent school with 440 students founded in 2002 grounded in and guided by the Quaker values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship( also known by the convenient acronym SPICES). This Mission District is a vibrant and eclectic neighborhood rich with cultural history and diversity. But similarly with other neighborhoods across the city it also has many issues and challenges as San Francisco still continues to slowly make its way back from the pandemic. At SF Friends School, student empowerment is at the heart of our educational approach, particularly through our Service Learning program. This program provides students with opportunities to engage in hands-on, real-world projects( many in our Mission neighborhood) that not only foster personal growth but also enable them to have a meaningful impact on their community. Central to this work is the belief that when students are given the freedom to make choices within a clear, supportive framework, they gain a deeper sense of responsibility and the confidence to become leaders, collaborators, and changemakers.
The Power of Relationships in Service Learning
At SF Friends, we believe that relationships are the foundation of our service learning initiatives. These connections are grounded in the Quaker values of community and stewardship, which guide both the students’ actions and the projects themselves. Our approach is built on three key principles we strive for in our relationships –– we want them to be authentic, reciprocal, and enduring— all of which strengthen the lasting impact of our work.
Page 22 Summer 2025 CSEE Connections