Two
weeks I had a disturbing experience I want to share. I contacted two national organizations
offering service learning opportunities.
The first one was offering inner city project opportunities and the second
was vaguely described as looking for volunteer coordinators. I sent emails to both form their web pages.
The
first sent me an automated response with contact person email information and I
replied to that. My reply was speedily returned
as undeliverable. I went back to the web site and sent a feedback form about
what happened. That produced a response
from a person who sent me another email address and phone for the same contact
person. I sent a new email to the
contact and that was returned as undeliverable.
I called the number of this person and heard a voice, left my message,
and then nothing. It’s been two weeks
and I’ve heard nothing.
The
second opportunity responded promptly to my inquiry in a short message, one
sentence, something to the effect that they needed volunteers and was I
interested? I didn’t respond. Why? Not
inspired.
I’m
a teacher. I have organized high school
students into doing service work, without all the lofty terms. They just want
to make the campus a better place. I did
it by providing information, facilitating discussions, and fanning the flames
of their commitment to the campus and neighborhood.
I
think that the keys to effective service learning and stirring up volunteer
efforts in a community are:
1)
Make the connection: sparking an interest
about a specific issues or challenge
2) Allowing potential participants to
take a level of responsibility in the issue/challenge
3) Meaningful action to resolve the
issue/challenge
4) Local organization to administrate
the action
5) Time for reflection on the “good”
being produced
I
don’t think throwing money at service learning is going to accomplish
meaningful work or even increase numbers of participants. And, I think speakers
that talk without making the connection are mere advertisers to an action item
on the “looking good” agenda.
Students
and people want to help, they want to pitch in and do some work. If you don’t have participation in your
program then I guarantee you … you aren’t doing the five points above.
I
hope we don’t run an excellent teaching method, service learning, amok because all
we’re doing is throwing the almighty corporation dollar, or even worse - the almighty
donation dollar, in an effort to run enough advertisements to peak interest and
fill some volunteer slots in a plan.
What
to do? Let’s keep this real and stay focused.
Teachers are the resource for the five point plan because they already
have the connection with students. Let the teachers promote the opportunity. I
know, from my own experience in a classroom, it’s possible to instill service
learning in the minds and heart of our future leaders while people are having
fun and learning too. Organizations that partner with teachers are taking a
step in the right direction.