Joseph Kahne & Joel Westheimer

Tiffany Scoco

Dr. Corinne McKamey

Fned:346

23 October 2018

In the service of what? The politics of service learning By: Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer

Summary of article:

The article began with the question “In the service of what?” The author then begins to explain this question causes controversy amongst teachers, policy makers and academicians. In President Kennedy’s inaugural address he challenged the country with his appeal “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Service learning emphasises on charity work, it wants you to get out of the classroom and go into the real world and perform community service. Educators believe that service learning can improve the community and invigorate the classroom making the educational experience maximised. Service learning projects aim to promote student self esteem and confidence, develop higher thinking skills and make use of multiple abilities.

The author then explains two different examples of classroom service learning projects. The first service learning project talked about is Mr. Johnson’s 12th grade U.S. government course. Mr. Johnson had his students choose their community service learning project. One student worked in a center for babies whose mothers were addicted to cocaine during pregnancy. Another student worked in a hospital running errands for doctors. A third student prepared and distributed survival kits to the homeless. Mr. Johnson explained that by students interacting with those less fortunate than themselves would experience that joy and excitement of learning while using the community as a classroom. The second service learning project talked about is Ms. Adams, 7th grade class took a different approach to the service learning project. Ms. Adams and her class discussed issues of common concern and then voted on the issue of homelessness as their topic. Her class examined the social, economic, legal and political determinants of homelessness. The class invited guest speakers and read many articles on homelessness. They developed plans to aid the homeless in their local community and raised money to donate to two different homeless advocacy groups. Both of these service learning projects provides excellent learning experiences, reflection of social concerns and interdisciplinary study. Service learning projects stress the importance of compassion for those in need and encourage people to help. The author then discusses the difference between the two service learning projects. In Mr.Johnson's class his students focused on a sense of civic duty. In Ms. Adam’s class her students focused on the critical analysis of the causes of homelessness and strategies to try and prevent it.

 Service learning projects hope to accomplish students thinking critically and collectively respond to problems. It wants students to engage in meaningful service by giving them opportunities and experiences to work in the community. Service learning has several goals its trying to accomplish. In the moral domain, there are two types of relationships. Relationships that emphasize charity are called ‘giving,’ and relationships that forge new connections are called ‘caring.’ In the political domain, it draws from two different assumptions political socialization and what it means to be a citizen. It expresses the importance of civic duty and responsive citizens. Volunteerism and compassion for the less fortunate are the main points of political socialization. It calls for a curriculum that emphasizes critical reflection about social policies and conditions. In the intellectual domain, helps to get students motivated, engage in higher thinking and promote interdisciplinary studies. Service learning projects have many components to do with both change and charity and the three domains. The experimental and interpersonal components of the project aim students to diminish the sense of ‘otherness’ that tends to separates privileged students from those in need. Part of citizenship is helping those less fortunate in our communities. Many schools are now requiring volunteering as part of graduation requirements. All service learning projects emphasize the importance of a reflection. Having students share their thoughts, opinions and experiences is valuable. In order for students to be critical thinkers they must be able to analyze arguments that justify arguments that maybe opposite to the students personal believes or self interests. “In the service of what?” gets the attention of teachers, policy makers and academicians who believe that learning and service reinforce each other and should be put in place in all American schools.

Hyperlink:  https://www.themethighschool.org/apps/pages/communityschool

This is a link to the school website of The Met High School. The Met High School is based on service learning. The Met has individualized learning plans for every student. They believe it’s the best approach for teaching children. The Met empowers their students to take charge of their learning so their students become responsible citizens. The Met education includes advisory, individual learning plans, internships, projects and exhibitions. Advisory: Teachers at The Met are called advisors. Each advisor is responsible for about 16 students. Students are in the same advisory all four years of high school. The advisor is responsible for helping their students develop individual learning plans, find and succeed their internships, design and implement projects, improve their academic skills and prepare for their exhibitions. Individual learning plans: Each student at The Met has an individual learning plan developed by the student, the parents and the advisor. The learning plan outlines the students goals academically, their internship goals, projects and personal life goals. Internships: Every student at the Met has an internship with a mentor in a field that interests them. Students spend two full days a week at their internship all four years of high school. Projects: All four years of high school students design and complete projects according to their interests and goals on their individual learning plans. Exhibitions: Every trimester at The Met students do a presentation explaining what they have learned throughout the trimester. Students present their exhibitions to their advisor, parents, peers and sometimes their mentor.

Points to share:

“If we focus on the numerous values we share as a community, the founder of the communitarian movement and a proponent of service learning our world would be radically improved.”

I agree with this quote, I believe that if we were all a little nicer to one another and we really make an effort to help others this world will be a better place. We all need to stop and take the time to help others if we do this world will be so much better.

Link to article "In the service of what?": https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-JcBFAuLc-0Uk96Z2g3NDI2bkU/view