In The Service Of What? The Politics of Service Learning
The values of Service Learning help students realize the importance of charity. Having Service Learning projects within the curriculum can help students become activists in their community. Service Learning can teach responsibility, good morals, gratefulness, and create connections. Not only that, but Service Learning can help students develop specific skills they need in order to be successful in the future, For example, public speaking and working with other people. Reflections of these projects can ensure stronger critical thinking. A quote in the article explaining this topic states, "To be critical thinkers, students must be able to consider arguments that justify conclusions that conflict with their own predispositions and self-interest. Structured, informed, and systematic analysis of service experiences from a variety of ideological positions will not ensure critical thinking in the strong sense, but such reflection should make that outcome more common." Upon reflecting their service experience, students realize the morals and issues that some people face and grow a stronger sense of critical thinking when discussing ways to resolve some of the worlds problems. I believe Service Learning projects are eye opening and give students a chance to give back to their community.
For my senior project in high school, we were required to conduct 20 hours of community service. I thought this was beneficial and it allowed me to see from another point of view. I worked in the food pantry at my church stocking shelves as well as handing out food to the people of Pawtucket. The community service gave me a sense of pride as well as taught me to be grateful. I was very pleased and happy to be helping others and it made me feel good about myself. It also showed me that it is important to give back to the community. It seems now a days, all we do is take and never give. The community service that I experienced helped me realize that. That is why I believe Service Learning is highly important for students.
This video describes the importance of community service and what it is. I thought it was very educational and inspiring.
Service Learning Ideas - Article that shares some service learning ideas.
Questions
1) Do you think if Service Learning wasn't required, students would take the initiative to conduct it themselves?
2) Since some high schools require community service in order to graduate, do you think students are not as engaged because they are "forced" to do it?
I never had to do any service learning/community service before the course, which is something I used to tease my younger brother about - he had to, I got out of it. (Now I wish I had, because it might not have taken me as long to gain perspective on certain things.) But I'm also worried that young people might not be engaged or benefit as much from it if it's mandatory. Seeing how many people even in college do the bare minimum requirements makes me wonder if high schoolers or middle schoolers can really get to the deeper lessons within service learning.
ReplyDeleteGreat points made and I agree with your final point about service being important.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately Serena, I don't think that students would want to do community service unless the adults in their lives really made it clear to them just how important it is, in addition to making it required.
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