I think we need to be aware of other people's opinions, but I'm not so
certain we need to feel that they are a threat. I think the world is big
enough to hold all of us.
As to the Ayn Rand Institute's argument, it may actually be beneficial to
give it a look, if only to get us thinking again about WHY we do this.
There seem to be two themes running throughout our discussion of
service-learning. On the one hand, we talk about the educational value of
learning course material by applying it in a community setting in a way
that the community decides would be useful. On the other hand, we also
talk about bringing about a change in citizenship skills, civic literacy,
and the like.
Nothing I have read in Ayn Rand's philosphy leads me to believe that an
objectivist would disagree with the first program. If service-learning
really does help some students learn, and they have freely chosen to enroll
in the class, then they have also chosen to fulfill the requirements of the
class. In this case, it makes no more sense to object to the service
component than it does to object to taking exams or attending chemistry
lab.
It also does not have to run against our goal to use service-learning to
teach citizenship skills. It doesn't have to, but it might. If we carry
on the discussion in terms of a partcular type of citizenship, say a
liberal or a Christian style of citizenship, then we may indeed find that
the Ayn Rand Institute is debating against us. But that is one of the
lessons of civic action, that you allow for debate, criticism and civil
action. In fact, those of us using federal dollars find ourselves in the
position of NOT being able to teach students how to exercise one form of
civic involvement; namely, political action.
I also took a look at the Ayn Rand Institute's website at
http://www.aynrand.org/medialink/index.html
If you look at what they object to, it isn't service, per se, but mandatory
service. Now, that may go against the general grain on this list, but it
isn't reactionary. In fact there are folks on the list and at NSEE and who
work with service-learning programs who are against mandatory service.
That's a whole different question.
In the end, even though I don't embrace the Ayn Rand Foundation's
philosophical arguments, I can understand their point. It isn't any worse
an argument than the one for mandatory service. And I still think the
world is wide enough to hold all of us.
peace
-- Chester Gates 410-455-2494 work The Shriver Center 410-455-1074 fax UMBC 410-276-2539 home 1000 Hilltop Circle Baltimore, MD 21250