In the Service of What?

Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer In the Service of What? Caitlin Rennell


Quotes:
1. A transformative educational experience requires that students engage in critical thinking in the "strong," not the "weak" senses.
This quote means that to be able to be critical thinkers as students will help you in a good way and make your sense of self stronger. To be a critical thinker as a student you must be able to consider other arguments that may justify a conclusion thats outside your beliefs and self interests.
This contributes to the reading because as we grow our thinking does too and to be able to analyze service experiences from a variety of different perspectives.
2."In the service of what?" is question that inevitably merits the attention of teachers, policy makers, and academicians who take seriously the idea that learning and service reinforce each other and should come together in America's schools."
This quote pretty much summarizes the whole article. It talks about how this question "In the service of what?" is brought up with different educators who take it very seriously and believe that it should be reinforced to students and society that volunteering and helping others not only in good for you and the people or person your helping but to bring a community together and help others.
3."While an additional emphasis on charity might lead to service learning activities that raise self-esteem, impel students into new experiences, and demonstrate the value of scholastic abilities in real-world contexts, educators who focus on a transformative vision would want to carry this work on step further."
This quote means that charity is a good way to boost ones self-esteem, broaden experiences, and demonstrate the values of helping others and being out in the real world.
This contributes to this article because most of its about charity believe it or not. Charity is a form of service learning. Its not only doing good for others but as the article states helping you grow as a person; making you feel good about yourself.

Questions/Comments/Points to share:
This article about the politics of service learning was easy to read. It opened up new ways of looking at service learning and taught me things I didn't even really know about. Like our other readings it ties into what we are doing in class because we are all doing volunteer working at schools which is a form of service learning. Its giving without getting something in return. This article gave examples of different projects teachers gave out to show students about helping others. It opened up a knew view on what we can do for our society. It not only helps others when we volunteer, but can make you feel pretty darn good about yourself. Why is it so hard for our society to simply volunteer; to help others in need?