Kahne and Westeimer

While reading this article I was thinking back to both my days in high school and now while I intern a my old high school. It was amazing to read about service learning, because I have been doing things for my community since I was in first grade. In elementary school I helped the needy at senior homes, I put on dinners and did meals on wheels for those who could not travel or afford good meals. I was a girl scout and through scouting I learned the importance of helping out the community either by making someone happy, by signing during the holidays or by just listening and by cleaning up beaches and putting on memorials when I was in middle school for lost loved ones. We cared about our community and the people in it. We learned that we should not take things for granted and respect each other and help out. Responsibilities were a big part in learning through scouting, and each project we engaged in we took something away and did what we had to, to help. In my high school years I was still a scout and had a internship for school. I tough 5th grade students about health. I really enjoyed how the children reacted to the course I and my classmates that interned with me set up. There was work book activities and gym games which we played outside or inside depending on the weather. We created songs, and by the end of the course the children had a party that included fruits and vegetables. These things I have done for the community are only a few out of my very long list, but some of my most rewarding. Now I intern at my old high school and find that it is still the same when it comes to service learning. Each student gets an internship here, and does community service hours. This is helping them learn more about the community they live in and more about their interests as well. I think that service learning has a powerful impact on the world not just the community. Children learn much more by going on into the world then sitting in a classroom being bored. At least at a service learning site they are hands on and active which keeps students interested in what they are learning about. In a classroom setting students get bored and tend to tune out the teacher because they stop caring. President John Kennedy had once said this and I think this great " ask not what your country can do for
you; ask what you can do for your country." This saying it powerful and positive a wonderful message for all and one to live by.  More schools should be doing more for their community and if they did, their students would have more knowledge and respect for the world and for others.

community service