The never ending discussion keeps going, and I love it. If we are
looking at culprits for the lack of civic engagement out there I'd like
to add "economics" into the discussion. Americans are working more hours
per week than they did 20 years ago. Instead of technology alleviating
the pressure to PRODUCE, technology is being used to used to raise
expectations. Just think about it, a memo that may have taken 2 hours to
write,now takes 15 minutes. But that extra 1 hour + gets used up doing
MORE. Some of that is our own expectations, but a lot of it is "otherly"
generated (the corporate model comes to mind). So here is my theory:
because we are expected to do more (in cases of white collar jobs that
means more mental work) our capactites to give to our communities (and
family) is taxed to the limit. And so, t.v. steps in for a quick fix
leasure moment.
what does service learning have to do with alleviating this? i believe
it teaches us to SLOW DOWN and think about the value of face to face
interaction. and for most, relating with people who, if life were to
follow its "predicted" paths, you would have never come into contact
with. serivce learning should be viewed as an intervention and
ultimately a form of "civic association" that transcends institutional
boundaries (whether that institution is abowling league, the masons or a
bridge club.) There is something inherantly wonderful about recasting
civic association in the mold of interacting with people not like
yourself. service learning, when practiced successfully, facilitates
that movement.
regards, Chris Koliba