A student in a social studies class who spends time in a homeless shelter tutoring younger children or serving meals develops an emotional and human connection with the course concepts. It involves learning and using real academic skills, performing needed service, and producing real results that command respect. There is strong evidence that indicates that service learning supports intellectual and citizenship development. Basic academic and higher thinking skills are learned in unexpectedly powerful ways when community becomes the classroom, as young people learn not just from books, but from their own experience. The motivation to learn is intensified, while opportunities to develop insight and judgment are multiplied.
Social growth is advanced.
Concern for the welfare of others and the ability to relate positively to a range of cultural backgrounds are encouraged as well. To insure the use of effective strategies such as service learning in schools it must be included in national education legislation. Title IV Students in service-learning showed significant gain in psychological maturity among high school students. There is some indication that participation in service-learning, combined with other studies, may reduce risk behaviors associated with teen pregnancy and drug abuse. From Youth As Problem To Youth As Resources.