Beyond Consumerism and Utopianism: How Service Learning Contributes to Liberal Arts Ideals

Authors

  • Roy Schwartzman Northwest Missouri State University Author
  • Greg A. Phelps Lindsey Wilson College Author

Abstract

The authors place service learning within the liberal arts tradition of empowering others to help themselves. Such a contextualization supplements visions of students as consumers or customers and education as a means to gain economic advantage in a competitive market. Their attention then turns to how even well-intentioned service-learning projects might be co-opted in ways that foster community dependence on the services offered. Effectively designed service-learning programs should offer a broad range of opportunities for social activism while encouraging critical reflection about the applicability of market-derived educational philosophies.

Published

2024-03-22