What Is Service Learning?
Service Learning helps students build character by allowing them to foster and develop personal values, beliefs, awareness, self-esteem, confidence, and a sense of empathy and social responsibility. It is a teaching model that uses community service as a vehicle to help students reach their academic goals and objectives. Service learning is based on a reciprocal relationship in which service in the community reinforces and strengthens learning in the classroom, and classroom experiences reinforce and strengthen interaction in the community.
Our experience at Abington Senior High School has suggested a marked increase in attendance, greater opportunities for social development, more scholarships granted by accepting colleges, a lower rate of suspensions, and fewer incidents of juvenile crime in Abington Township since the inception of our Service Learning Program.
Our experience at Abington Senior High School has suggested a marked increase in attendance, greater opportunities for social development, more scholarships granted by accepting colleges, a lower rate of suspensions, and fewer incidents of juvenile crime in Abington Township since the inception of our Service Learning Program.
Top Ten Reasons to Engage in Service-Learning!
- Has a positive effect on student personal development such as sense of personal efficacy, personal identity, spiritual growth, and moral development
- Has a positive effect on interpersonal development and the ability to work well with others, leadership, and communication skills
- Has a positive effect on reducing stereotypes and facilitating cultural and racial understanding
- Has a positive effect on sense of social responsibility, citizenship, and commitment to service
- Has an impact on academic outcomes such as demonstrated complexity of understanding, problem analysis, critical thinking, and cognitive development
- Contributes to career development and can influence major and career selection
- Contributes to stronger student/faculty relationships
- Has long-term effects that may surface even years after graduation in terms of public service commitment, willingness to contribute to social causes, and willingness to give back to oneR17;s institution
- Has relevancyR12;it helps to link the often abstract theory of the classroom with day-to-day experiences of students and community members
- Builds CommunityR12;links students, faculty, and the institution of higher learning to the local community and beyond.
Avenues for Service
- In 10th and 11th grades, students may devote their hours to various projects, and after a review of their activities, select one area of interest in 12th grade on which to focus.
- One activity sustained for three years, such as a volunteer firefighter (junior or volunteer), participating in a mentoring program, or working at a hospital.