Robert,
You might want to preview a copy of the SERVICE LEARNING READER:
REFLECTIOMS AND PERSPECTIVES ON SERVICE. It is published by NSEE in
Raleigh NC I developed it as an interdisciplinary curriculum for
University of Vermont Students engaged in internships in the community.
It offers a real range of articles in an anthology divided into eight
chapters, each of which takes a different view of service, ranging from
how one learns differently through experience than in a traditional
classroom, looking at how people develop values and find a sense of
purpose in their work, examining the skills of interaction, reflection,
and dialogue necessary to be effective in any service, looking at the
philosophical roots of service from many different ethnic and cultural
perspectives. It also provides readings to help students examines the
issues and agency they work with. It looks at community vs.
individualism, examines ethical and decision making choices one is faced
with in the course of service, and finally puts all that on a broader
palette to look at global awareness.
While all the articles in the Reader may not be suitably easy for some of
your students, many will be. The readings are drawn from authors like
John Dewey, John McKnight, John Gardener. Paolo Freire, Thich Nhat Thanh,
Ram Dass, Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson, Nel Noddings, and others. They range from a cartoon
essay to parables and stories, to more intellectually dense essays and
chapters. The readings are provocative, even each taken alone. And
also included is the reflection syllabus we used at UVM.
For more information contact NSEE, either at nsee@interpath.com or call
919-787-3263. Perhaps your library could purchase it if you cannot.
Good luck.
Gail Albert
Vermont Commission on National And Community Service
133 State St. Montpelier, VT 802 828-4982
On Thu, 14 Mar 1996, robert new wrote:
> Hi! I just discovered the service-learning listserver and I've
> been "listening" to the conversation over the last few weeks.
> It's exciting to have found such a vital and helpful community.
>
> I am an AmeriCorps member helping a high school teacher
> to develop a service-learning class in rural Virginia. The high
> school schedule is set up in block periods so students
> attend four 85 minutes classes each day. For the
> service-learning class, students are doing service in the
> community (teaching assistants at elementary schools,
> visiting nursing homes, etc.) for 3 days during the week and
> they are in the classroom for 2 days of the week.
>
> I have been trying to develop a syllabus for this class using
> different topics such as team building, communication,
> conflict resolution, diversity, leadership development,
> mentoring, personal development and other such service
> related areas. I have had trouble finding material that is
> suitable for the high school level.
>
> Since the service-learning class has a mixture of academic
> students and academically challenged students, I would like
> to find readings that would be easy and interesting for all
> students to read.
>
> I've been worried about copyright infringements and did not
> want to call every publishing company to find out how much I
> needed to pay for copying their material. My program does
> not have the necessary budget to pay for all of the articles for
> this project and I was hoping there was a easier, less time
> consuming and cheaper way to get this project done.
>
> Please let me know if there are articles, stories or materials
> on the Internet that I could use or any materials I can obtain
> elsewhere at no cost or at a very low price. Thank you for
>- your help.
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Bob New
> AmeriCorps Member
> VA COOL
> Mary Washington College
> rnew@mwcgw.mwc.edu
> (540) 654 - 1802
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
->