"In the Service of What?" by Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer

"In the Service of What?"
 by Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer

Jen

1."Educators and legislators alike maintain that service learning can improve the

community and invigorate the classroom, providing rich educational

experiences for students at all levels of schooling. Service learning makes

students active participants in service projects that aim to respond to the

needs of the community while furthering the academic goals of students.

Students in a service learning project might analyze and monitor the

composition of nearby swamplands or produce an oral history of their

community. They might work with the homeless or initiate a cross-age

tutoring project. 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."

1) I agree with this quote.  Taking part in a service learning project is very helpful in different ways.  You learn many different skills and also help other people which is very rewarding.  A tutoring project is  a very good way to not only help someone with school work, but also be a friend to someone that could really need someone.

2. Some projects require a student to use what the learn in the classroom in a real life situation which is a good way to learn more about topics.

2."One student in Mr. Johnson's class, for example, volunteered at the Veterans'

Memorial Senior Center:

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. It seemed that the dinner was

something special to them; it was a chance for them to get

together with their peers. Many don't have families in the area and

are all alone for the holidays. This made it a little less lonely,

which feels great. Thank you for giving me the chance to help!"

1.I feel that many students should be part of a project where they help make people's lives better.  I agree with what this student said about how great it felt to brighten the holiday for these people that might not have family around.  In high school my chorus would go sing at the aci and at a few senior centers.  Some of the staff told us how many of the people never smiled when they are there, but once we show up they are all smiling and singing.  It feels great to make a difference in someones life.

This article was confusing sometimes, but the meaning of it is very important.  Volunteering has been a big part of my life and i understand how you need to talk to the people that you are helping.  It makes the experience better and you can also help them out better if you know some things about them.