Response to Service Learning Post

I am so excited that my blog this week caused so much commotion! Dr. Bogad told me to elaborate so I want to do this here. I also want to talk about Nick's comment about just talking to the congregation not being a change type of service learning.

The students who are actually participating in this event do not get the WHOLE effect of what it is like to be homeless, but they learn what it is like to not have running water, or food, and potentially little sleep. I don't think there are blankets either, because it is very rare to see a homeless person with pillows and blankets, etc. After going through this semi-difficult experience, the students go to the soup kitchens and help to serve the homeless. Now, at this point, they are seeing others and being able to try to compare their experience, and eventually make a change in homelessness. I would think that, with all this said, Kahne and Westheimer would agree that this type of service learning is considered change.

Telling the congregation about their experiences, is not the change type of service learning for the congregation, but the fact that these students are sharing their experience shows that they have learned something. Since they felt what it was like to be homeless they do not want to face it themselves and they want to help the current homeless people. I agree that the congregation is only hearing the stories, so it is only spreading the word. Like Mary said, the church has many resources and continues to do this every year, and every year there are more and more people who volunteer their time to support this activity.

Thanks Luke and Sarah for pointing out my favorite line, too. "Service learning, no matter what type, is beneficial for everyone." It is the point of the student to take something from their experiences. Whether they take action to change the problem or not, is their prerogative. But in the end, someone's life has been changed.