Talking Points # 5

In the Service of What?
The Politics of Service Learning
By: Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer

Kahne and Westheimer argue that service learning should be a part of the schools, and that the focus now seems to be on charity when it should be a focus toward change. The authors use real life experiences and thoughts of students, teachers and politicians to explain the view of service learning and the path it needs to take. Through these thoughts the reader is introduced to different opinions of service learning and the need for it. Some teachers and politicians believe that it is a part of a citizen’s duty to do community service. Unfortunately, this automatically puts service learning as a requirement making the students not have a choice; it’s something they have to do. By seeing service learning as an opportunity to better and change the lives of others will have a positive and more rewarding experience rather than if it was seen as an obligation or charity. The authors explain that this is the problem with service learning right now. By seeing it as a charity, for example in Mr. Johnson’s classroom the students weren’t asked to examine how the people they were helping ended up this way, what to do to prevent this from happening to someone else, and how can these students move toward making a positive change through service learning. Thus, if by doing service learning we are not changing nor attempting toward change, and making a difference then are we really making the effort to understand and better the community?

1. "We attempt to apprehend the reality of the other and then to struggle [for progress] together. In so doing we create opportunities for changing our understanding of the other and the context within which he or she lives."

I believe that the authors are trying to explain that to really make a change in the life of others we first need to comprehend those “others” lives. That one needs to understand others struggle to really help them. If we don’t understand how they got there, and what could have been changed or be changed about their daily life then how can we make it better? If we take the time to listen, and understand each other we are indeed “creating opportunities for change” not just a change in the lives of others but a change in our lives. How we think and perceive others. For example, the children who were introduced to the elementary school in the poor neighborhood had changed their perception of the urban school after attending. One of the students said I was scared to go because my mom said it was a bad neighborhood. However come to find out there students were extremely polite and surprisingly friendly. This proves that many people go by what they hear or see. We don’t take the time to really get to know people, and their struggle we automatically judge people whether it be a negative or positive judgment. Therefore, by taking the time to comprehend others and their surroundings, we are taking the time to address social concerns in a meaningful positive way.

2. “Educators who emphasize change would clearly also value the educational benefits of this approach. To tap into the full power of service activities, however, these practitioners would want to combine critical inquiry with action. This process can transform students' understandings of both disciplinary knowledge and the particular social issues with which they are engaged."

This quote brought out my attention because while teachers who believe that it should be a push toward change they also believe in the positive aspects these activities have in the classroom. These service activities would teach children how to learn, communicate and combine their thinking with action. It takes students out of the classroom and gives them a form of active learning in reality [the real world].


3. “The model is compassion or charity; [service is optional, a personal choice] and thus can never be the subject of political duties.”

This quote is evidence for the argument between charities versus change. In the article, Bush said that it should be the duty of every citizen to complete community service. I disagree, I believe that as part of communities would should give back and if everyone does so that is what keeps a strong community and government going. At the same time however by forcing students to do community service they are not getting positive feedback, learning experiences, or taking the time to understand others and their social issues. Therefore they are not really making a change. As the authors mentioned to make a change students must take the time to understand and comprehend others to want to do community service. If one doesn’t want to do something, or didn’t want to in the first place they aren’t going to have a positive attitude going into it. Therefore as the quote says it should be optional, and a personal choice and can never be a requirement. If it is it is automatically contributing to its meaning as a charity were giving but are we truly caring?

I thought this article was a extremely long and dense to read. I read it once and then had to read it over again there were some parts that were easy to understand and others where I was trying to figure out what they were trying to say and what their point was. Throughout most of the article, I wrote notes here and there and highlighted but once I had reached the end I wasn't sure if they were arguing for change, or for community service. As I went over it I came to a final argument and found evidence however I feel as if they are still arguging more than that? I found this article to be relating to my own experience in service learning. When we were first told we were being placed in an urban school I was a bit scared and wanted to request a school from home. However Martin Luther King Elementary is a wonderful school, with very intelligent children who are openminded to others and their classmates. I am very happy with my placement and I really hope I can move toward a positive change in the classroom.