Date and Time — Service Learning

            As I begin my path for service learning this semester, I will be attending Walter P Carter Elementary / Middle School to help the students who need additional support, as I did last semester. I will be working in the PIEL program (Prevention and Intervention for Early Learners) , which offers additional language acquisition assistance to those students who are struggling to keep up with their peers in this classroom. In the past semester, I interacted with some students who were in the third grade, yet reading at a first grade reading level. Therefore, the need for this program is imperative as it helps strengthen the phonics skills of each student. My position at the school was to pull out one to three students at a time and work with them on their required needs for about twenty minutes. Small groups were grouped together based on their academic ability, not necessarily their age or grade level. The PIEL program was put in place to due to the high amounts of illiteracy present in the school. Oftentimes, this illiteracy comes from a lack of support at home, frequent attendance issues, or simply being “pushed under the rug” throughout their time at school resulting in being very behind in class. Over 90% of the school is also in the FARMS program (Free and Reduced Meals), therefore they often come from lower socioeconomic classes, which can directly result in the amount of support and opportunities they have at home. Many students come from broken homes, with divorced parents or other family dynamics that directly translate into them as individuals and their performance at school. 

            In the book, Date and Time by Phil Kaye, the author dives deep into the relationships present throughout the novel. Kaye describes how he grew up with his parents and watched them love one another, but one day it all changed when they decided to get a divorce. Kaye’s life experiences with his parents directly relates to the experiences that the students at Walter P Carter experience within their families. They watch some of their parents grow up with one another, but then break apart as their parents no longer love one another. Furthermore, Kaye reflects on his past relationships and the rejection and worthlessness he felt as he continued to experience rejection, the feeling that the students often feel regarding their home and academic life. When the students are struggling and are experiencing a lack of support, they often feel that same kind of worthlessness that Kaye felt in his past relationships.  

My experience last semester truly opened my eyes to another part of the community that I had not yet explored. I met some of the sweetest children, some of those who had been through so much at a young age. That connection between broken homes and the feelings of rejection and worthlessness can be draw between Kaye’s novel and the students present at Walter P Carter as they share similar experiences throughout their life. 

            The use of service learning at Loyola is an excellent way for students to learn outside of the classroom. The experiences and lessons drawn from participating in service learning are aspects that one cannot learn in the typical classroom setting. The only way to truly understand and experience the lessons drawn from participating in service is to simply get out into the community. Loyola does an excellent job of encouraging students to participate and engage in their community, as it becomes and eye opening experience for all who are involved .