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"The Panel of Elders" at Hesston College

Throughout history, the stories of older people have been a key part of most cultures. These stories, passed from one generation to another, included significant values, beliefs and skills. The relationship between elders and young people was important for both generations. The elders were valued because of their storehouse of wisdom. The energy and vision of young people included caring for older people. Over the last two centuries this has changed in the western world. The generations are separated from each other; electronic technology and a variety of professions have replaced the importance of the elders. Now, in the postmodern world, many people are recognizing the need to intentionally connect the generations with each other. One example of this is seen in The Panel of Elders. This panel represents the dialogue between young adult students at Hesston College and older adults. In this process, the students interview elders. This interview is then transcribed into a story written from the perspective of the elder.

 

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