Talking Point #5: "In the Service of what? The Politics of Service Learning" by: Joseph Kahne & Joel Westheimer

1. "As is commonly the case with new policy initiatives, however,more attention has been focused on moving forward than on asking where we are headed."

• I agree completely with this quote, because I do believe that now in days people are only thinking of going forward without knowing where they are heading. For example, the government has said that social security benefits might get cut.  With this being said, the government really doesn't know what that is going to do.     

     2  ."Bush was advancing voluntary community service as an alternative to government programs. He made no mention of changes that address the structural injustices that leave so many in need."

• In regard to this quote, I do feel that volunteer work has been more important than ever before.  However, I do disagree with the author in not giving the president any credits for advancing volunteer work.  I understand that the authors feel that transformational changes should be done, but not many people have the time to do that.  I just feel that they are putting volunteer work down, when in fact it is very important. 

     3.  ". . .When asked what they gained from the experience, many students said simply that it thought them "that people can be different" from what you expect."

• I could agree with this quote, because with the VIPs program, I have learned the same concept. I realize, that one should not stereotype.  I also realize that giving part of your time to someone could really make a big difference in their lives.

Talking Point #4: "Unlearning the Myths that Bind Us" by: Linda Christensen

"I was nourished on the milk of American culture: I cleaned the dwarves' house and waited for Prince Charming to bring me life..." Christensen  (p.126)

• ·         I think that every girl has this dream, of waiting for Prince Charming.  However, I do believe that this is just when the girl is a child.  But even yet, there are many women that believe that they should throw their life away and wait for the perfect man, and live happily ever after.  I think this is mostly because of Folk Tales and Princesses stories.  As a child when I watched, Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast, I always wanted the ending to become my reality but that feeling just lasted for five minutes though.        

"I start by showing students old cartoons because the sterotypes are so blatant. We look at the roles women, men, people of color, and poor people play in cartoons." Christensen (p.129)

• ·         I do agree with this quote because, in every fairytale, African American are the servants, or people that are really not in important in the story.   I also do realize that women are always waiting for Prince Charming.  For example, Cinderella and Rapunzel, waited until the prince came and saved them.  Another perfect example is Sleeping Beauty.  I feel that, until this problem was put out in the open, people of color would of kept on being the servants, and the buffoons in these stories.

"Towards the end of the unit, students write essays critiquing cartoons. I hope that these will encourage students to look deeper into the issues..." Christensen (p.133)

• ·         I had a problem with this section.  I do believe that we should teach students about sterotypes, but I do not think we should hammer it into their head, only because we feel a certain way about it.  I think that we should educate them, and then they can come up with their own opinion; but from that to making them a paper about it, is where I have a problem about it.