Sometimes I think that the United States of America is as much a country as it is an idea - an idea for a place in which the elite are those that have worked most diligently to obtain their positions in society. Herzberg mentions this idea when he references page 128 of "Lives on the Boundary," in which America is described as a false meritocracy. I concede that this country is not a meritocracy because equal opportunity in no way exists, but I don't think that the idea of a meritocracy is detrimental. It is the idea that inspires hope and motivation to escape societal constraints.
I further acknowledge that the difference between community service and social change is valid, but I don't think that diminishes the spirit of community service. If you work to help a group of illiterate adults learn to read, you may not be solving the issue of illiteracy, but you're definitely making a difference in someone's life. In my experience, community service sparks human connection between people who may never have had the chance to meet on any other occasion, and it offers the ability to learn from someone whose background is, most likely, entirely different. You grow as an individual so that when you become aware of the broader societal issues to spur social change, you already have a sense of personal passion.
3 comments:
" If you work to help a group of illiterate adults learn to read, you may not be solving the issue of illiteracy, but you're definitely making a difference in someone's life."
Yeah I think this is always the problem with liberal social interventions. There is both joy and a reward associated with making a difference... and less with affecting structural change. It's so much easier, and feels so much better to help than to solve.
Plus if you solve it... you can't help anymore. A we like help... there is an interesting feeling of a surge of power when you can "make a difference in someone's life."
Herzberg is clearly an expert in the field of social work. Although it may seem obvious that there are deeper issues connected to community service, Herzberg outlines his hypothesis in a clear, persuasive manner. However I disagree with his tone on social work. Although community service may be “voluntary social band-aiding” (Crooks 309), it still has an intrinsic value that is meaningful. Often times students that volunteer for community service don’t know, or even bother to research the deeper social constructs that produce social injustice. In my opinion, that isn’t always important. If someone takes time out of their busy life to give back to the community, that person is helping the community. It may not be a the type of assistance that changes society, but it will help someone in need, and that cannot be overlooked.
Once again, I agree with Herzberg in that there are more beneficial, long lasting ways to affect the community, but any service that is requires volunteers must be valued for whatever it is.
As for his research with his students, I can understand why his students had trouble with the ideas of meritocracy and equal opportunity. Herzberg’s students at Bentley College mostly came from middle to upper class socio economic backgrounds, thus their viewpoint on education is jaded. From their respective points of view, hard work equals success. However, as Herzberg points out, in lowers socio economic situations, hard work is just one step towards success, luck and opportunity and proper guidance are all equally important factors.
I feel that if someone takes time of out of their schedule to go to a local community shelter, under funded pre school or any other location in need of assistance, than they are making lasting social change. Although there actions may not work to cure the root of the community problems, they are instead setting an example of caring for the community and volunteering to see its improvement. That factor cannot be overlooked.
And taking into account both of these comments: what does structural change look like? Does it mean passing laws such as the civil rights laws that outlawed Jim Crow? Or could it mean changing the cultural scripts we have like the Horatio Alger myth? How do we measure the efficacy of our involvement?
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