In The Service Of What? The Politics of Service Learning by: Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer

In this article the authors argue that while the importance and value of service learning cannot be disputed, there needs to be more discussion about the goals and types of service learning. This article poses four questions that need to asked in regards to service learning.
(1) "What values do service learning and curricula models seek to promote?'
(2) "What kinds of social and political relations do they ask students to imagine?"
(3) "What kinds of relationships develop between students and those they serve?"
(4) "What kind of society does service learning lead students to work toward?" 

The authors argue that there is a difference between service learning that focuses on charity as opposed to service learning that focuses on change. The difference is that charity focused service learning helps people by emphasizing giving and change focused service learning focuses on caring. I agree with the authors that while there is a difference the two can definitely be intertwined. I thought of the example of making Thanksgiving pies for people in need which I do every year. It makes me feel good, and I am sure that the people enjoy the pies but it does not really connect me to the people or inspire any change to their circumstances. So while they both have value I can see where service learning that inspires real change has more lasting value. The authors say that " Those oriented towards change embrace the importance of political activity." and also that " Service activities should develop students ability at critical thinking." I agree with this. Helping is good but learning how to think critically can create the changes needed to solve some of the problems in society.  The authors say that " to be critical thinkers students must be able to consider arguments that conflict with their own ideas and self interest." If the service project helps people directly through charity that is good too, but real change I think should be the objective of service learning.  In the link below, Soledad O' Brien of CNN talks to a group of University students about creating change and the importance of critical thinking, She says," We can't shut out those we disagree with-that is not being a leader, that is being an obstacle." https://csl.uchicago.edu/feature/creating-change-your-community

The question I would like to ask is: What kinds of service learning do you think would inspire students to learn and employ critical thinking. What kind of service learning creates real change?