Dispelling age stereotypes with a senior-senior prom
Abstract
High school students in North Adams, Massachusetts, concluded a year-long study of the elderly in society by hosting a senior-senior prom for local senior citizens. The students built relationships with the senior citizens through weekly visits during the year and organized the dance as a year-end celebration. The event helped to bridge the gap between generations and helped dispel stereotypes held by each group. Excerpted from Community Lessons: Promising Curriculum Practices by Julie Bartsch.Issue
High school sociology students in North Adams, Massachusetts, wanted to address senior citizens' feelings of isolation and neglect. The students hoped to dispel stereotypes held by each group: that teenagers are self-centered and even dangerous individuals, and that the elderly are irritable and out of touch with youth.Action
Members of the senior class decided to celebrate the end of their senior year by hosting a senior-senior prom. In preparation for the prom, the students and senior citizens co-planned the event. Students:
- Mailed letters to nursing homes, elderly day care centers, and elderly housing inviting seniors to a senior prom.
- Chose a theme, researched old music and dances, canvassed stores and community members for donations of prizes, purchased ingredients aligned with dietary restrictions, and collaborated with the culinary arts department to make refreshments.
- Arranged for transportation, researched the building's handicapped accessibility, and worked with facilities to make necessary adjustments.
- Hired a band, sent invitations to other members of the school and larger community, and decorated the high school gymnasium.
- Throughout the school year, members of the sociology class examined the issues impacting the elderly through weekly visits to nursing homes or senior day care centers and the students kept a journal describing their weekly visits.
Context
The Senior-Senior Prom was a community-service project of the sociology class in Drury High School in North Adams, Massachusetts. Community partners included Willowood Nursing Home, Alzheimers Information Hotline, Council on Aging, Elder Services of Berkshire County, Elder Abuse Hotline, Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, Northern Berkshire Mental Health, and Sweet Brook Nursing Home.Citation
Bartsch, Julie. "Senior-Senior Prom," Community Lessons: Promising Curriculum Practices. Massachusetts Department of Education, March 2001: pp.159-168.Outcome
This dialogue with senior citizens provided the students with primary research for testing their hypotheses surrounding the stereotyping of adolescents and the elderly, and enriched the lives of the senior citizens. Two generations learned to bridge the gap in years, interests, and experiences through informal conversation. Students recognized that the elderly population is comprised of individual people with valued memories. Students learned to:
- Recognize the real-world applications of sociological concepts
- Develop problem-solving skills, cooperative learning techniques, accountability procedures, and communication skills
- Break down generational stereotypes and appreciate individuality
- Coordinate the myriad aspects of creating a large social event
Posted On
November 15, 2001For More Information
Resources
From The Resource Center library:
Community Lessons: Promising Curriculum Practices
Item number: C1977
Check out the Community Service-Learning Promising Practices projects from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for more project ideas.
Related Practices
Related sites
National Service-Learning Exchange