In the Service of What? by Kahne and Westheimer

I grew up in a small school which gave me the ability to volunteer in the elementary school during my study hall. I had volunteered in the elementary school since sixth grade and absolutely loved it. My school had a requirement for high schoolers to do at least 15 hours of volunteer work either at school, church, or community. You had to have at least two categories of volunteer hours. I found that volunteering in the elementary school gave me much greater joy than volunteering elsewhere. I believe I enjoyed the elementary school more because I chose to do it. I wanted experience with children so that I could use what I learned there in my own classroom one day. It wasn't just volunteering for me but a learning opportunity.

I think requiring kids to serve in their community and school is a good thing but I think it's better when people get to choose where they volunteer. It's only fun to volunteer if it's something you're interested in. I think volunteering shouldn't be a chore but something you enjoy and find interesting. I truly admired the teachers that I teacher aided for and saw things that you just can't learn in a classroom in college. I will always hold that experience with me and use what I liked in my own classroom one day.

Requiring students to do service-learning is a good thing because it does build your morals and life skills but only if students let it. I think having prior knowledge of what environment you are entering is important. If you don't know anything about a place then it makes it harder to interrupt what is going on. It makes the volunteer work less authentic when you don't go into it with knowledge and an open mind.

Video about having an impact.

I found this short video to be very inspiring and think explains the moral side of volunteer work. We all leave our footprints on this Earth and volunteer work is just one way.