Possible questions to guide your reflection (please do not feel compelled to answer all or most of these--a few will do! And, feel free to build from and/or constructively challenge your colleagues with your reflection):
- What is your understanding of the main causes of homelessness?
- Where have these understandings been shaped?
- What kind of work have you done with folks who have experienced homelessness before?
- What has been your experience with children in your classrooms who have experienced homelessness?
- What is a first experience you recall encountering someone who was homeless?
- What do you feel are important ingredients to a service experience?
- What, if any, is the distinction between community service and service learning?
- Why do some critical educators call us to move 'beyond empathy' in our service learning experiences? What is 'beyond' empathy? And, how might we do that?
- What do you hope to take away from this experience on the 28th?
11 comments:
The causes of homelessness are many. Illness, unemployment, underemployment, discrimination, post-incarceration, abuse to name a few can produce situations in which people become homeless. I have had the opportunity to work extensively with my church outreach ministries. I have had the opportunity to work with people from several of the homeless shelters in Louisville providing meals, clothing, financial assistance, employment opportunities and spiritual support. Some of my students and family members have been homeless at times. The most important ingredient to any service experience is remembering that we all share the same human status and that those of us who are 'okay' today are but a short step from homelessness tomorrow. Community service is our way of giving back to the community as part of our civic responsibility. Service learning is what we gain in knowledge, enlightment, humanity and self actualization by creating community with others. I am excited about June 28. As to the food thing I will provide the entire entree for the meal. Should I say that here? Somebody let me know. Angela
I agree with your comment on service learning. If we take nothing away from the experience that will change our preception of ourselves, others, and the world in which we live then it experience was just a kind jesture.
EH
The nature of my educational experiences lends itself to participation in service to others. However, sometimes I feel that we make it 'too easy' for our parents and students. Just bring in your toothpaste, can good, diapers, etc. and drop them off in the pretty bins at the front door and you're finished. While these types of collections are certainly needed and appreciated by the beneficiaries they often do not have the human connection that can really make an impact on our children. I have, as far as I know, never taught a homeless child. I actually never really thought about it, assuming I guess that if you were homeless you just didn't go to school. I was intrigued when I heard Adam talk about the buses that take kids to their home schools. I have worked in soup kitchens, with meals on wheels, and with other organizations that distribute food to those in need. Homelessness is certainly not a choice or a result of laziness. I am looking forward to serving on the 28th but I am also excited to find resources and make connections for my students for next school year.
I say often, "I wish I could change things." I then say that I am only one person what can I do? Wow if everyone had that attitude then no one would help with anything. Between the Brittish lit. amd the portfolio writing I'm going to begin to help my students see the unfairness in our world. I give my share of monies and goods, but it is not enough! As I move into principal I will carry service learning into my vision and mission. How can we do this as teachers and principals?
Still out of the country, but just had a few moments to check in. Good discussion so far here. I particularly like this take on service learning: "Service learning is what we gain in knowledge, enlightment, humanity and self actualization by creating community with others."
There is often quite a bit of difference in the literature made between community service and service learning--and you have made some of that distinction here. What are other differences you all see? Perhaps Mary Ann is getting at some of the difference below: "While these types of collections are certainly needed and appreciated by the beneficiaries they often do not have the human connection that can really make an impact on our children."
I think we should try to keep the food discussion in the other section related to June 28. :)
We had have homeless students at RMS. It is such a difficult situation when you find out that one of your students is homeless. I have always struggled on how to handle it. Of course, we turn them in to our Youth Service Coordinator but I always want to be involved as well. I want to help them but it is such a tricky situation with middle schoolers. They either don't want you to know or seem embarrassed by it. I look forward to our service learning project as it will help me to understand my homeless students better so that I can do whatever necessary to help them.
I very much agree with Angela that the causes are incredibly varied. I have very little experience working with the homeless, but I do have some experience with service. I think too many well intentioned people are lost on where to begin. I think service is much much more than writing a check. I think we have a moral obligation to give back for the many gifts that we enjoy. I do think I work hard for what I have, but I do not delude myself into thinking that I have been incredibly fortunate in my life. Perhaps the most important lesson I have learned from my experience in working with service programs is to not take for granted the many gifts that have enbled me to live the life I have. I try to pass that on to my students evry time the opportunity presents itself. Most of my students come from good situations and many are quite priveledged. I hope that some of them learn from me just how fortunate they are and how important their responsibilities are to those members of our society that are not as fortunate. One person may not be able to change the world, but any change must start with one person. I am really looking forward to this opportunity at Volunteers of America.
Through my experiences, I learned that anybody can become homeless. It's important to keep this in our minds when we are working with kids because they need to know that the homeless can be very educated people going through a rough time.
I wish I had more experience dealing with homelessness. I have occasionally volunteered through school, church, or other service opportunities but rarely has it ever been directed towards homelessness. I do require my students in my classes to perform some sort of community service and I often join them, but very few of them choose to work with the homeless even though homelessness is always a big topic when we discuss issues that our government should be more interested in. I guess that says a lot about how we like to talk about change, but in the case of homelessness, there is very little action that takes place. Several summers back, when I was still in college, I interned at the Jefferson County Attorney's office and assisted prosecuters in arraignment court and in district court. I came in contact with many homeless individuals in arraignment court because they would be arrested for loitering, trespassing, drunkenness, solicitation, etc. but would be sentenced to one night in jail (which they already served) and be released later that day. They had no where to go or given opportunities to get clean, medication, sober, education, or anything that would stop their revolving door into the county lockup. There were many, many repeat customers of which the judges knew on a first name basis. It was really sad and made me think that we really need to get those individuals some worthwhile help. As far as schools go, I know that there are students that are barely scraping by and even some that may be without a home but do not let anyone know that they homeless. I wish we knew more about those students so that we can get them the services they need and at the same time shape our instruction based on their individual needs. I know I have talked for too long but I do think that it is ultimately important to make a difference in everyone's lives and just because you are homeless does not make you less important. It only gives us that much more potential to make a difference.
I see homelessness as a very complicated issued. I see that it is a cycle that many people are trying to get out of but that it is very difficult. SOme of the difficulties of breaking this cycle are created by our system of government. I have learned the most about homelessness from exercises in Catholic schools. As a student at 15 I experienced the INSIGHTS program that took us through the day in the life of a homeless person in Louisville. We traveled from shelter to shelter for meals and went through exercises of what trying to find a job and a home is really like. As a teacher I now take Seniors on this experience to dispel the myth that homeless people are lazy and have chosen to live in this state. I have try to find ways to extend this experience beyond a voyer experience to a Awareness, Analysis and Action plan for further study. I hope to create a distinction in my class between community service and service learning and will see this experience at Volunteers of America in the same way.
My experience has taught me that one may never know who is homeless and who is not. There is something that many homeless students that I have known and their families have, and that is pride. Looking your best, doing your best and giving your all are the traits that I have come to see in my experiences with students I have served that are homeless. I truly believe that the drive in these individuals will get them through many tough situations. I also wonder, how it is possible that the people that have so much do so little to help those in need.
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