Talking Points #5 on Kahne and Westheimer

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

Premise-This article is about:

• politics
• service learning
• educators
• legislators
• money
• community service
• learning/teaching
• experiences
• community
• democratic education
• American schools
• classrooms
• differences
• altruism
• self-reflection
• charity
• morals
• intelect
• helping
• understanding

Author's Argument: Kahne and Westheimer argue that it would be beneficial if service learning were incorporated into schools because it would give children better character and more sense of accomplishment.

Evidence:

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." (2) The authors are saying that service learning is a positive endeavor that can enlighten children to better the community.

2) "Both provide authentic learning experiences, reflection on matters of social concern, and opportunities for interdisciplinary study linked to curricular goals." (3)This part of the article was about two service learning projects and what the students who participated learned from the experience.

3) "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." (7) This student had a powerful and worth while experience helping the less fortunate.

4)"After they returned, the students' perspectives on these elementary school children had changed. They were surprised at the children's responsiveness and their attentiveness." (8) This quote is a reaction from upper middle class students who helped out at elementary school located in a poor neighborhood.

5) "Efforts to integrate service learning activities into the curriculum have great potential and deserve the support they are now receiving." (12) This quote shows that the authors are happy service learning is gaining the positive attention in deserves.

Questions/Comments/Points to Share:

Although a bit boring at times, I found this article to be unbias and informative. It is a lenghty piece, and I believe it is also repetitive at times. This article could have easily been shortened and still delivered the main argument. I enjoyed the personal stories from students on how community service affected them and what they got out of it. This article made me think of my own service learning project, and how to me it really does not feel like community service because I am teaching, which is what I love to do. I hope to still be teaching after college, just getting paid for it. I completely agree with the authors in that service learning not only benefits the community, it also benefits the person volunteering as well.