Community Service-Learning: A Guide to Including Service in the Public
School Curriculum
Edited by Rahima C. Wade
State University of New York Press, Albany. Copyright 1997. Trade Paperback,
379 pages. Price: $21.95.
Even though it has been more than three decades since President John F. Kennedy said "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country," it appears that many Americans have still not heeded that call. For a variety of reasons, including a sometimes singleminded pursuit of economic enterprise, many citizens of our country have turned away from civic responsibilities, and some feel our nation has suffered for it. An example is often given: average voter turnout in U.S. presidential elections since World War II is approximately 50 percent. In other words, more than half of registered voters can't even be bothered to fulfill this minimal expression of citizenship. Clearly, something is wrong, and some educators believe that service learning is a step in creating a new generation of participating citizens.
Educators and parents know that students often learn best when they see "real world" relevance in their learning activities. In the excellent book Community Service-Learning, edited by Rahima C. Wade, the reader sees the relevance for the student and the community. It's "real world" because it is: real and civic minded assistance in the community. The planning is real; the action is real. And the benefit to the community is real as well.
A problem encountered in service-learning is the planning and execution of a successful program. Whether an educator or community member, one encounters a myriad of difficulties when organizing for service-learning. For this reason alone, Community Service-Learning is required reading. It is always a pleasant surprise to find a book so well organized and complete, as well as truly useful, rather than merely theoretical.
Community Service-Learning is divided into four parts. In the beginning, we learn practical information on preparation and collaboration for service-learning, as well as integrating it into a school curriculum and building community support.
Next is service-learning in schools, with chapters for elementary, middle, and high school programs. As a high school English teacher, I found the chapter on high school programs interesting and useful; I have some new ideas for next year! Essential practices for K-12 programs are also covered.
The third section of Community Service-Learning is a series of narratives from people involved in service-learning: one reads accounts by a classroom teacher, student, administrator, school program coordinator, staff developer, community agency member, parent, and even a statewide service-learning coordinator. The variety of perspectives is fascinating and valuable for giving one a sense of the whole.
Finally, the future of service-learning is discussed, along with challenges to the activity. This rounds out service-learning as a tangible practice.
The reader of Community Service-Learning will find a valuable appendix with a wealth of material for further reading as well as listings of videos and service-learning organizations. The listings are substantial. For K-8 teachers, there is even a community service-learning kit available. One comes away from this work with a clear sense of direction for a service learning project.
Our nation's democracy is fragile, idealistic, and perhaps unrealistic. One recalls Nathaniel Hawthorne's passage in The Scarlet Letter: "The founders of a new colony, whatever utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a cemetery and another portion as the site of a prison."
Perhaps we can't achieve a utopia in America, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't embrace Thomas Jefferson's ideal of a nation of well-educated citizens active in democracy. Service-learning is one strong, positive step in that necessary direction. Students will benefit, as will all of us, when they learn the value of serving their community and their country.
Reviewed by Christopher Whalen:
RR 1 Box 1, Waitsfield, VT 05673
(802) 496-9703
