There's more than just Ethics

In doing my Core Issues research I came across the idea, in several places, that service-learning is good for academic performance and a feeling of involvement in school. Of course we have heard various times that indulging in service learning is a different and more complex way to learn the issues presented in an ethics class (since after all ethics involves people, not just yourself and your books). But I wondered, for a bit, how doing not-entirely-altruistic community service could possibly be a benefit past such a class or college applications.

Then, of course, it occured to me. Service learning generates an event to look forward to. Additionally, it can be an ego-boost at times to be good enough in anything to be able to help someone else with it. Also, abstract concepts in books--concepts you know you questions the relevance of--can suddenly make sense in the context of helping others.

Given all that, it's no wonder DUC has this program. Now we just have to extend it so that all students get to experience it at least once. Everyone deserves that chance for personal growth.