November 14, 2005
Members Statement
Hidden Heroes Education Project
 
 
R. Cantelon: I stand today to talk about a program, which is working in school district 68, called Hidden Heroes. Now, hidden heroes are ordinary people and children who do small, everyday things that make a positive difference in their own lives or the lives of people they touch. The Hidden Heroes education project is a three-stage program that encourages children to seek out and write about hidden heroes in their lives. The goal is to improve student literacy as they work through the project.

           In the first stage, students are motivated to seek out, interview and write or speak about a hidden hero in their life. They are encouraged to identify the positive values that make this person a hidden hero. In the second stage, they identify their own positive values and become hidden heroes themselves and then write about that experience. In stage three, they post their stories on the Hidden Hero website.

           This program helps students to achieve several provincial learning outcomes, such as social responsibility, social studies and literacy. I have a great example of a young hidden hero. A grade three student revealed that she has four piggy banks: one for herself, one for her education, one to buy presents for her family and a fourth to help needy children at Christmas. At the end of the year, with matching donations from adults, she now has raised over $300 in her fourth pot for Christmas food baskets.

           I'd like to thank Mr. Bill Robinson for founding the project, for helping students with literacy and for helping them to see the good features in those around them and in themselves.