One thing I have always struggled with when it comes to service learning and service in general is the idea of what it means to be a volunteer. You are not really a volunteer if you are being graded or being paid to perform a service. With that said, it is important to show our students the benefits of serving others instead of ourselves. The true goal of service learning should not be the project that you are working on for a day. The real goal is to develop a sense of purpose and satisfaction in doing something that makes the world a better place for people to live in and doing it without any thought of what is best for you, and to allow that sense to encourage you to do more service work in the future. I have done service learning with my class before, but I have always attached a grade to it. I know that it may be necessary in the beginning to attach a grade to a student’s performance at a “volunteer” event, but I think that there should be a natural transition. I know that next year when I do service learning with my students I am going to try to make it worth zero points in the grade book. .
I have seen too many seniors in my and other schools that are focused on doing community service so that they can “put it on their resume.” I think I will challenge students to do a project that they will not be putting on their resume. This will allow them to truly feel what it is like to give selflessly to other human beings. When you give selflessly, you move from being a “volunteer” to a VOLUNTEER.
Real charity doesn't care if it's tax-deductible or not. ~Dan Bennett
Shawn, I agree with you about serving and the motivation to serve. I saw my own boys struggling at the last minute to find something that they would be willing to do for their class (as a requirement in both 8th grade and 12th grade). The projects had no real meaning for them and I believe the assignment really had no meaning for their teachers either. Being a volunteer with a charitable heart starts with very young children. Because of that I am committing to start with my 1st graders and their families:)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't have said it better Shawn. Would it be safe to say that a true volunteer would be someone that gives of their time to something they are passionate about, or believe deeply in? You could tell just by the way people act, if they really care about what they are doing. Would a student be more apt to volunteer for something that they had an interest in, for sure, but those opportunities will not occur all the time. Having our students understand the importance of volunteering in general is what it is about. Who knows, it may lead them to find ways for them to volunteer with something they are passionate about.
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