Comments from service-learning participants, Spring 2008
Students
… I found the museum project to be the most eye opening [part of the course]. It taught me endless possibilities for combining the museum in the community with the high school curriculum. This is becoming harder and harder because the focus is on Regents requirements. The most important aspect of the service learning project is that I understand the many different opportunities that we have as teachers to make a difference in the community which will go a long way into drawing in family involvement.
A student in Introduction to Adolescence Education (AED 391).
I liked working with real people outside of the school setting rather than just standing back and talking about issues.
A student in Urban Sociology (SOC 461).
Faculty
In my Course/Teacher Evaluations from last semester’s CPN 101 [Academic Writing in the Curriculum II] honors course, many of my students listed service-learning as their favorite part of the semester. One student got so excited about her New York Public Interest Research Group project that she went to DC for three days to advocate for support for that project.
Kathy Lattimore, CPN 101 (Honors) Instructor
Students' relationships with their assigned children and families make a real difference in the children's lives, even though they have limited time together. Many of our SUNY students continue to correspond with and visit their assigned families after the semester is over. During the practicum, children often introduce SUNY students, proudly, to their peers and teachers as "my college buddies.
Judy Bentley, Foundations and Social Advocacy
Agency Supervisors
I can’t tell you how much I loved working with each and every one of you and I hope you’ll come back and join in to make some of the changes you all talked about. The most important thing I hope you learned is what your presence alone, means to the kids. You are role models in all aspects of your lives and I know you will continue to serve as positive influences on everyone around you. Someone had to have showed you that along the way. Be safe and happy this summer! Hope to see you in the fall.
Leslie Wilkins, M.Ed., Prevention Coordinator, Family Counseling Services, who emailed service-learning students
I would also like to let you know how happy we are with the volunteers that we have had for our childcare for our Parents With Hope groups. The girls have been very dependable! We look forward to partnering with the students in the future.
Thanks again,
Jo Friedman, CAPCO Family Development Advocate in an unsolicited email to SUNY Cortland’s Office of Service-Learning.
