The growth of community service, particularly service learning, is not occurring as quickly or as seriously as it should. The comprehensive partnership between the University of Pennsylvania and the West Philadelphia public schools that involves parents, children, and community members in a variety of programs is a model of a service learning…

Describes the American Youth Foundation's role in enhancing school-community collaborations in the St. Louis area through service learning. As a "critical friend," AYF introduced new resources ($1.5 million and AmeriCorps assistance), developed a service-learning demonstration program, and helped build capacity to sustain changes by…

Describes a walkabout program that a sixth-grade teacher developed for her students from several models designed for older students. The program's basic structure revolves around five areas of personal development: adventure, creative expression, local inquiry, practical skills, and service. This voluntary program's success hinges on developing…

Details the history of the Catholic Church's involvement in social justice issues from the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) on. Describes social justice programs in schools in the diocese of Albany, New York, as well as other programs. Stresses that social justice activity rises out gratitude for the gift of life and should be seen in the context…

Describes the implementation and assessment of a service learning project involving an earth science fair. Points out that service learning provides a novel learning experience. (DDR)

Presents a rationale and definition of service learning. Discusses the reasons why service learning is important for students in social studies education, particularly in relationship to citizenship education. Focuses on the benefits that service learning offers to students learning social studies. (CMK)

Offers a former U.S. president's reflections on service and its role in higher education. Discusses personal experiences that shaped his views on service and examines ways in which colleges and universities can promote student service learning. Outlines some of the skills gained through service work and covers other issues. (RJM)

Offers reflections on a former president's remarks concerning service and describes what one university organization is learning about volunteerism and community service on campus. Identifies likely participants in service projects and discusses the benefits of service; ways to promote service participation, service and leadership; and service and…

Describes two study abroad programs based on service learning at the Centers of Lutheran Reformation in Germany. Participants not only fulfilled community needs but also forged individual relationships that helped them reflect on global and economic issues that they could not have understood from classroom lectures alone. (Author/VWL)

Describes how Red Bridge Elementary (Kansas City, Missouri) participated in the "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle--Make a Difference in Our Community" campaign that coincided with the 1998 Make a Difference Day Campaign. Discusses the project, including the planning, publicity, donation collection, donation distribution, and campaign results.…

A community college nursing program in Hawaii partners with the American Red Cross in service learning projects that prepare nursing students as AIDS prevention educators. Flexibility and partner commitment eased the challenges of time constraints, funding gaps, and workloads. (SK)

This conversation began with the question: what has teaching Appalachian Studies taught us about teaching in general? Several themes emerged. Teaching Appalachian studies makes the subject matter relevant to the personal growth of students; requires innovative curriculum development; and because of its activist past, connects naturally with…

Discusses the link between political socialization scholarship and service learning. States that information gleaned from socialization research on adolescents' political identities and beliefs can inform service learning, asserting that the relationship between political socialization and service learning needs to be encouraged. (CMK)

Examined outcomes of a service-learning tutoring program with elementary school children. Compared to a non-tutored group, the tutored children had higher 1-year gains in Stanford Achievement Test scores in math and spelling. Teachers and students rated tutoring highly. (EV)

Revamps the principles of a public relations course, the first professional course in the public relations sequence, by integrating a leadership process and a service-learning component. Finds that more students are reflecting the interpersonal and team skills desired in the 1998 national study on public relations. (SG)