ARGUMENT
Kahne and Westheimer argue about the reasons behind service learning.
They say that "service learning can improve the community and invigorate the classroom, providing rich educational experiences for students at all levels of schooling." If this is true, then why is there such controversy on the subject?
There seem to be two main subjects to the argument, service learning for charity, or service learning to identify and respond (change).
The most popular theme these authors write is charity work, not change. In FNED, we do charity for our service learning according to Kahne and Westheimer. We tutor students and have "the joy of reaching out to others".
With change, you work to identify the problem and respond. You learn "moral acuity, and the social sensitivity they would develop as the learned to assess critically and respond collectively to authentic problems." You attempt to "apprehend the reality of the other". You try to experience someone else's life. When you do this, you have an understanding of another person and how they live.
There was a table that looked like this in the article:
Moral Political Intellectual
Charity giving civic duty additive experience
Change caring social reconstruction transformative experience
It is pretty self explanatory, but it clearly shows what is what kind of service and think it was very helpful in my understanding of the article.
This article argues that there is a difference between charity and change. That with charity, sometimes there is a lack of actually really helping someone. "many current service activities emphasize altruism and charity and fail to call into question current notions of individualism or to encourage the type of political participation that furthers democracy."
Anothe argument is that there is now charity work that raises self-esteem and creates new experiences. But those who believe in the transformative exprience, believe it is a combination of service and critical analysis. It is there to promost interest and insight into social issues.
There are many other details concerning the different reasons that cause people to do services.
In class, I think we should talk about what people think we are doing in class. If we are doing it because we have to (charity) or that we are learning about how to live like other people and becoming more aware of social issues (change).
I found this youtube video. It is sort of annoying and dorky, but it still explains everything.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPs1kF_kO1c
I agree. There is a difference between charity and change. And more people I feel need to be a part of the change
ReplyDeleteIn the video you selected, they make a comment about how service learning helps students relate what they are learning in class to real life situations, which I think is important. We talk a lot about theory and pedagogy in class, and most of the articles we read and discussions we have try to expose and challenge dominant ideology. We also take time to share our service learning experiences and relate them to the articles we read and theories we're learning, therefore, we are doing charity and change, which is what Kahne and Westheimer argue we should do.
ReplyDeletehey Darlene I liked your argument so I used it as my extended comments for my class blog this week.
ReplyDeleteI agree I would also like to talk about that in class.
ReplyDeleteI think you have a reall strong argument good job
ReplyDeleteGreat argument!!!! You made a good point in the topic of change vs charity! Good Job!
ReplyDelete