(Download) "Voices from the Community: A Case for Reciprocity in Service-Learning (Report)" by Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning " eBook PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Voices from the Community: A Case for Reciprocity in Service-Learning (Report)
- Author : Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning
- Release Date : January 22, 2009
- Genre: Education,Books,Professional & Technical,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 232 KB
Description
The core aspirations of service-learning, to increase civic engagement in students and narrow the distance between universities and communities (Benson, Harkavy, & Puckett, 2007; Mattson, 1998; Morton & Saltmarsh, 1997), appear to have lost momentum (Saltmarsh, Hartley, & Clayton, 2008). Social problems are as difficult as ever (e.g., economic crisis, immigration and health care reform, Afghanistan and Iraq invasions) and service-learning is better positioned, in terms of legitimacy, funding, research, and following, to fulfill its mission than in the past (Billig & Eyler, 2003; Kiely, 2005). So why the plateau in this urgent movement (Brukardt, Holland, Percy, & Zimpher, 2004)? Saltmarsh et al. (2008) argue that universities might be suffering from a survival instinct that prevents further advancement of service-learning. The very legitimacy of the university depends on being perceived as having expert, objective, universal knowledge to impart. The university's very existence might be questioned if those without credentials or degrees manage to solve society's ills (Brukardt et al., 2004; Saltmarsh et al.). Service-learning advocates an opposing epistemology: a need for knowledge to be local and co-created with (rather than for) the community. There has been a loud call for more reciprocal exchanges between universities and communities to awaken service-learning from its inaction (Saltmarsh et al.). This age-old call (see Dewey, 1938; Freire, 1970; Giroux, 1992) has powerful rhetoric but difficult application.