At first, I had no idea what I was getting into when I first volunteered to work in the Homework Club at ANSER. I had tutored before, but this was actually my first attempt to undertake a service-learning project and then relate it to my experience in this course.
As it turns out, it is proving to be a rather fruitful experience. The supervisors who work beside us are dedicated and hardworking people. They make sure that the students are actively working on their assignments and keeping on top of their homework. And I was very impressed to find that the students themselves are quite independent and proactive. For the most part, they know exactly what they need to do, and they do it. But they are also open to receiving help when they need it.
I was also thinking about how my experiences relate to my chosen topic--alternative methods to public education. The school slogan can be found at the entrance: "We are crew, not passengers." Here at ANSER, the students are taught to respect their supervisors--even the BSU volunteers--for giving up their time to help them out. If there is a pervasive problem, the supervisors work with the students to come to an agreement that would be mutually beneficial for all parties involved. While there is still a chain of command to follow, the kids are regularly encouraged to actively participate in discussions and respect the supervisors' guidelines.
Thanks for the thoughtful post! It's interesting how ANSER simultaneously allows for students' practice of freedom, yet also gives them a structure in which to work. Both sides of the equation seem necessary. :)
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