Name Of Author And Text
Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer - In Service of What? The Politics of Service Learning

Author's Arguement:
The authors argue that along with an experiment there has to be background information as well as a follow up. Service Learning is and should be supported, but there should be more to just going out and doing something for the community and calling it a day. There are standards and goals that should be met.

Quotes:
1) "The ability of a service learning curriculum to foster authentic, experience-based learning opportunities, to motivate students, to help students engage in higher order thinking in contextually varied environments, and to promote interdisciplinary studies has led some, such as John Brisco, a leader in the field,to label service learning 'the Trojan horse of school reform.'"
-When I think of the term Trojan Horse 2 things come to mind. One being bad- destruction, and the other being good- team work and togetherness. I believe service learning is a way to allow students to test the waters. Going into a career without having tried it first could be surprising or devistating, but when getting to work with others in your community and being able to not only help yourself, but others as well is a great thing. Service learning allows you to teach yourself while helping/teaching someone else. It is a nice feeling to know that you were the one who taught someone their ABC's or numbers.


2) "Our participation in acts of national service, he [Benjamin Barber] believes, is a 'prerequisite of citizenship' and essentional for democratic institutions.'"
- As much as I believe that service learning is an amazing program that people should take advantage of, I do not believe that a person should be forced to do so. I believe that people should have the choice of what they want to do with their time, and if SL is it then great, but if not than there is nothing really to do. I do not believe that acts of national service should be a prerequisite of citizenship because it is an unfair deal. What if you have children and a full time job, where is there time for SL? Whether the person wants to be a part of it or not there are things in life some people have to do for themselves and their families before they can reach out to others.

3) "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 do not volunteer 'to make a statement,' or to use the people we work with to protest something. We try to se the homeless man, the hungry child, and the dying woman as the people they are, not the means to some political end."
- I really liked this quote because it is true. Some people volunteer to say they volunteered and did some community service, but others who are really passionate do not like others to look at them and think that they feel the same as those people. There are people who really do want to help and who devote all of there spare time to different organizations and such. Not just for how good it looks on a resume or college application, but they care...they actually care.

Comments:
I believe service learning is a great thing and everyone should WANT to do it. I love where I'm at. It is right across the street from my house and I can see the kids whenever they are out for recess when I am home. I love watching these children progress, sing, dance, count, and interact with one another all of which they hadn't done before. This article was long and boring most of the time, but there was plenty of quotes in this article that could fire up a well-planned conversation! :)