"In the Service of What?" by Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer
1.) In contrast, much of the current discussion regarding service learning emphasizes charity, not change".
1. I chose this quote because it speaks directly to our classroom service project.
2. This quote is saying that while we do service learning as a good deed and a learning experience, we should be using it as a means to make ourselves installers of change.
3. This quote contributes to the overall piece by explaining the difference between what we are doing with service learning time opposed to what we should be doing.
2.) "Unfortunately, in many service activities, students view those they serve as clients rather than as a resource."
1. I chose this quote because it explains how I feel about my service learning project. Before reading this I didn’t really see myself as a resource, but now I see that I should and that I can be of some value to the kids that I work with.
2. This quote is explaining how volunteers see themselves; we think that we’re doing service to get something out of it for ourselves, but we can really do it for the benefit of the kids too.
3. The quote contributes to the article as a whole because it is describing the value of volunteers.
3.) In Atlanta students simply write a 500-word essay describing their experiences. They never discuss their experiences as part of a course.”
1. I chose this quote because I though it was a powerful one.
2. This quote is saying that when students do service they end up not even thinking of it as a requirement anymore. They can often see it as something that they can enjoy.
3. This quote is important to the article because it shows that students can really end up valuing required service time.
Overall I thought that this article was easy to read. I enjoyed this article because it made me think a lot about my service learning project and how far i have come with it. It made me wonder if my fellow students are feeling the same way about thier service time as I am?
Megan,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your explanation of your second quote. I never thought of myself as a resource either, but now looking at it from that perspective it make total and complete sense. Yes, I do have some of the same feelings about my service project as you. It gives the children and us something to look forward to because we are not only helping them, they are helping us.
I also found that a lot of what was said in this article relates to what we do in the schools for FNED. I found a lot of connections between what is going on now and what was spoken of in the article. Right now I can see how the boys are changing and I hope that I am changing them. I see that some of them are opening up more and seem to be working harder when it comes to certain things within school. I like that this makes a difference in me and the children.
ReplyDeletei really liked your third quote and the explanation. It should be more than part of a coarse. The project should be about getting to know the students and helping them. Also, if we think of it as more than just a project the students can have an impact on us too.
ReplyDeleteMeg,
ReplyDeleteI like your reflection on the overall article. It also made me think about how I have effected other people's lives by the community services projects I've done. Originally when I performed these projects, I did think about what I was doing, but now I can further it more after reading this article. I think once kids know how to wrap their minds around it, then it's easy.