Notable Individuals of The Service Learning Idea
Several of the proponents of citizenship and service-learning are John Locke, John Dewey, and Dr. Benjamin Barber.
John Locke (1632-1704) was an English philosopher and physician who had the idea that instead of just book learning, knowledge needs to be an experience. He believed that a man’s sense of perception had to be his greatest learning tool. Locke once said, “All wealth is the product of labor.” He understood that a man not only had to experience something to learn, he also had to meditate on what he had experienced in order to truly learn what was being taught.
“Democracy has to be born anew every generation and education is its midwife.” -John Dewey (1859-1952) Dewey made it clear from his writing that democracy, citizenship and education belong together. One cannot be learned without the others. There is a link between citizenship and education, one that can be learned through service-learning. John Dewey also said, “Education is not preparation for life, education is life itself.” He knew that one cannot have the mindset of just preparing for life, they must know that life is about learning.
A man by the name of Dr. Benjamin Barber (1939-????)has a concern for citizenship and education in America. The basic theme of much of Dr. Barber’s work is how to strengthen democracy. He has been a big supporter of requiring civics classes that include service-learning courses to advance citizenship.
Service-learning can motivate students and help them to understand social issues while developing positive relationships with those in there communities.
Read more about this topic: Service-learning, Origins of Service-Learning
Famous quotes containing the words notable, individuals, service, learning and/or idea:
“In one notable instance, where the United States Army and a hundred years of persuasion failed, a highway has succeeded. The Seminole Indians surrendered to the Tamiami Trail. From the Everglades the remnants of this race emerged, soon after the trail was built, to set up their palm-thatched villages along the road and to hoist tribal flags as a lure to passing motorists.”
—For the State of Florida, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“Africa is a paradox which illustrates and highlights neo-colonialism. Her earth is rich, yet the products that come from above and below the soil continue to enrich, not Africans predominantly, but groups and individuals who operate to Africa’s impoverishment.”
—Kwame Nkrumah (1900–1972)
“Our chief want in life, is, someone who shall make us do what we can. This is the service of a friend. With him we are easily great.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“It is no small mischief to a boy, that many of the best years of his life should be devoted to the learning of what can never be of any real use to any human being. His mind is necessarily rendered frivolous and superficial by the long habit of attaching importance to words instead of things; to sound instead of sense.”
—William Cobbett (1762–1835)
“The adjustment of qualities is so perfect between men and women, and each is so necessary to the other, that the idea of inferiority is absurd.”
—“Jennie June” Croly 1829–1901, U.S. founder of the woman’s club movement, journalist, author, editor. Demorest’s Illustrated Monthly and Mirror of Fashions, p. 204 (August 1866)