Talking Points 5 In service of What?

Jared Cormier

Kahne and Westheimer

In service of what?

1.       “the value of this approach (charity) extended far beyond the service students might provide for the elderly or the ways that they might clean up the environment. It lay in the academic skills, the moral acuity and the social sensitivity they would develop as they learned to assess critically and respond collectively to authentic problems.”

This passage summarizes the student benefits of service learning. The purpose of study is to gain as much knowledge as possible and whether the service is helping our societal problem on a large scale, or simply helping a particular individual, all charitable projects aim to help enrich the student’s life experience.

2.       “Students tutor, coach softball, paint playgrounds, and read to the elderly because they are interested in people, or because they want to learn a little about poverty and racism before they head out into the waiting corporate world…We try to see the homeless man, the hungry child, and the dying woman as the people they are, not the means to some political end. “

Another proponent of service learning through charity, this passage basically states that though students may not be making social impact on a large scale, the simple one-on-one interaction is still helping the intended individual as well as the student.

3.       “Students may use their developing ability to articulate powerful logical arguments to “maintain most of their deep-seeded prejudices and irrational habits of thought by making them appear more rational.”

This passage indicates a negative aspect of service learning through charity. By working with people less fortunate any sense of entitlement or social hierarchy will only be further encouraged.

                It took me a while to accept that there could be anything wrong with charitable contributions. The article focuses on charity versus change however can’t both be practiced simultaneously? I believe trying to impact society on a large scale through social change is a task for trained, educated government agencies and officials and is too involved for a general high school student. I believe a student volunteering their time to help an individual should be enough. I also believe minimal hours should be required for students coupled with education to prevent students gaining an inflated sense of entitlement.