Can a person learn through service to their community? Should that learning be linked in a deliberate process, or allowed to be free-form and flowing? What is the REAL purpose of "service"? Is it to truly benefit other people, the environment, or our communities? Or is it inherently self-serving, making the server feel good about their charitable acts?

Today I'm conducting a service learning training for 25 teachers and 15 students from around Washington state. Its part a grant program I advise for the Washington education agency. I'm excited, but continually nervous, and I think that some people here at TIG understand this: Are we promoting a great thing in service learning, or propagating the cycle of dependency that continues to tear apart the communities that are most in need?

It should be a good training, pretty straight-forward. And it gives me a better footing to help understand my own assumptions and misconceptions. Wish me well!