• Author: Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer
• Title: In the Service of What
• Argument: Westheimer and Kahne argue that service learning has been a suggested requirement of today's youth by a number of groups- and that community service is the key, but that there is not enough focus on the context. They think we need to also focus on why things are the way they are and what our service does to help and what can be done to further help, not just go through the motions and call it a day.
• Quote #1: The goal is to "promote student's self-esteem, devlop higher-order thinking skills, make use of multiple abilities, and provide authentic learning experiences." Doesn;t that sound like an SAT study course? The thought is good- that we need to stimulate and develop through the program, not tack on a requirement for the sake of doing so. But what is an authentic learning experience? Is my experience more authentic then yours? Was my childhood more authentic then yours? I understand that it wants us to leave the classroom and the books and actually experience a different side of our world, atleast for me, but i wouldn't say anyone is going to have a more authentic time then anyoine else.
• Quote #2: "In many service learning projects the emphasis is on the giving and countering the narcissism that is believed to be so prevalent amoung young poeple in society generally." Ok, so maybe not an authentic experience but one that "opens your eyes to the hooros of the world"?! I agree that many people, especially in youger generations are glued to the tv and video games and such, but their eyes will only be opened if they want them to be. If the student goes into the project "to get it done" they will be no less self focused then before. Or, on the opposite, if already not self focused, is may not help them get even less so.
• Quote #3: "Students testify to the transformative experience of service learning." The argument is that everyone will get something out of it, or enough people that it will be worth having everyone do it. I want to again stress that you have to want to have that experience and not just go through the motions. Later they mention the importance of reflection, and i agree that this is very important but stress that that, too can be bullshitted through. I dont mean to be so blunt, but those doing for the grade will get the grade and move on, and those that are even the least bit excited will be the ones having a genuinly mind-opening experience.
• My Responce: Personally, i hear what the article is saying but i don't always agree with the nominclature. The idea of service learning itself is something i completely support, and i am so thrilled to be able to participate. I agree with the authors that it needs to be about more then the service but including reflection as well, however i think that it will only be genuine from those that are genuine. I'm not saying its easy to tell the difference or someone may seem against service learning when they are really enjoying it and dont want to admit it, but that making it a rewarded suggestion instead of a requirement might be more effecting to those in the learning and those being serviced.
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I agree with what you say about the experience of service learning only being beneficial to those students who allow it to be. Some students just aren't going to want to do service learning. Some of them would totally BS their responses to the service learning because they didn't really care about what they were doing.
ReplyDeleteI guess that's just how people are. Sometimes people volunteer not because they care about what they're doing, but because they're forming an image for themselves. They want to be that guy who feeds poor people or the chick who reads to homeless kids. Sometimes they just do it because they're being forced to (to graduate from high school, for example).
I guess even the people who are helping for their own selfish reasons and not because they want to are still doing some good. Even if it's not sincere.
Kinda reminds me of teachers. If they only hired the truly sincere teachers who love what they do, then there'd be a lot of short staffed schools. But even teachers who hate their jobs and are in it for the pension and summer breaks teach kids something.
Sad, huh?
yeah :(
ReplyDeletei guess thats what i loved most about my high school
there was no requirement to do community service, so all the work i did was just becasue i wanted to
also, the teachers could be paid double what they were making by moving one town over in any direction. the ones that stayed were really dedicated and modivational
makes you feel good.
thank you for taking the time to respond :)