Talking Points #5

"In Service of What?: The Politics of Service Learning" Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer
Kaitlyn Paolino

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." (1)

Service learning can "invigorate the classroom," as well as provide educational and eye-opening experiences for people. I have done loads of community experience and as I have gotten older, I have valued more the experiences I have had in the past and present. Service learning can be for all ages, and I believe that all student should participate in some type of service learning. This is because it will give them perspective on how people live, as well as making themselves better people.

2. "Rather than tie the service curriculum exclusively to moral development, some advocates of service learning talk about developing citizens for our democracy." (8)

I believe that service learning should be for both moral development and the development of becoming a citizen. I think that service learning can help a person grow and become more compassionate, but also, service learning can open a person's eyes to the needs of our society. By doing service learning, I hope that I, and others, can continue to grow as people and also to contribute and help our society grow in a positive way.

3. "This interaction led some students to report marked changes in their beliefs about children from this neighborhood. Moreover, when asked what they gained from the experience, many students said simply that it taught them "that people can be different" from what you expect." (12)

I can relate to this quote. For this class, we needed to do a service learning project with schools in Providence. Before I arrived for my first visit, I had tons of things going through my head about what I thought it would be like. I was nervous to go, however, when I arrived and met with the students that all changed. I think it's important to do service learning projects in places that need the most help. Furthermore, people should try to get over the fear or notion that an area is a certain way until they have seen it themselves. This is a way service learning can help people broaden their horizons and find out which places in our society need the most help.


This article was interesting, yet,it didn't grab my attention like our previous reading. It was interesting to find out how people view service learning differently. By reading this article, I was able to connect to it because of the service learning project I am participating. Furthermore, I was able to articulate how I feel about service learning. I feel that service learning is very important. Furthermore, I feel that it helps a person grow inside and helps people See what needs to be done in our society to help it grow as well. Service learning is a great thing and all students and people should participate in it.