Talking point #5

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

Premise:

-community
-education
-service learning
-understanding
-experiences
-learning
-volunteer
-classrooms
-charity
-morals

Arguement:

Kahne and Westheimer both argue that service learning should be part of the school's curriculum as an opportunity not as charity because it betters the lives of students.

Evidence:

"For Thanksgiving this year my stepmother and I helped serve the seniors their Thanksgiving dinner. This was a very rewarding experience helping others in need."

"The idea that educators should foster a volunteer ethic and encourage youths to give something back to their school or community currently receives widespread support"

“In addition to helping those they serve, such service learning activities seek to promote students’ self-esteem, to develop higher-order thinking skills, to make use of multiple abilities, and to provide authentic learning experiences—all goals of current curriculum reform efforts”

Comments:

I think that everyone should do community service because it really does make you feel better about yourself and it really is a rewarding experience.