Is service learning really important?

[esposo]

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At my school they are requiring us to do this service learning class that has all this additional busywork involved in it. It is only 1.5 credits but we have to go to class 1.5 hours a week, do 20 hours of community service outside of class, and then we have to write up all these stupid reflection papers that we get docked if we don't agree with the instructors point of view. I think this class is a total waste of time and utter crap. It is not going to make me a better pharmacist, and is actually making me despise the poor people I have to go work with. What are your thoughts? I hate required servitude.

 

[trishias]

At my school they are requiring us to do this service learning class that has all this additional busywork involved in it. It is only 1.5 credits but we have to go to class 1.5 hours a week, do 20 hours of community service outside of class, and then we have to write up all these stupid reflection papers that we get docked if we don't agree with the instructors point of view. I think this class is a total waste of time and utter crap. It is not going to make me a better pharmacist, and is actually making me despise the poor people I have to go work with. What are your thoughts? I hate required servitude.

I get the part about hating required servitude and busy work, but maybe you are missing the point. It possibly will make u a better pharmacist because maybe u will have more compassion for your patients, which will enable u to help them better(? not so sure that is the right word). Why would the service learning make u despise poor people unless u already do? I would say take the class, open your mind and try to gain something from your time. You have do do anyway, so make the best of it.

 

[bananaface]

We have the same kind of thing. The class is pass/fail and everyone passes though.

The way it's taught it's useless.

 

[Caverject]

I believe it's a good tool for students. Most students hate it. However, most students have lived a privileged life. We have no clue what it is like to be homeless, having to rely on others for care, or being a drug addict. I never did until I had to do service learning. Now I think about the disabled seniors a little differently. I think about the 40 year old homeless lady with an rx for zyvox a little differently for treatment approach. It's things like that that you will learn or suppose to learn.

 

[Glycerin]

Which school is this?

 

[ZpackSux]

I believe it's a good tool for students. Most students hate it. However, most students have lived a privileged life. We have no clue what it is like to be homeless, having to rely on others for care, or being a drug addict. I never did until I had to do service learning. Now I think about the disabled seniors a little differently. I think about the 40 year old homeless lady with an rx for zyvox a little differently for treatment approach. It's things like that that you will learn or suppose to learn.

Pfizer has an Indigent Patient Service to provide free Zyvox for indigent patients. It only takes like a few minutes to setup for a patient...and they can go on their merry way with Free Zyvox.

 

[ButlerPharm.D.]

New ACPE standards require students to have some sort of patient contact and most schools choose the service learning route in order to meet this new standard.

 

[Caverject]

Pfizer has an Indigent Patient Service to provide free Zyvox for indigent patients. It only takes like a few minutes to setup for a patient...and they can go on their merry way with Free Zyvox.

I was unaware of the service until I did service learning. 🙂

 

[ZpackSux]

I was unaware of the service until I did service learning. 🙂

You should've known it!!!!

 

[Jeddevil]

Which school is this?

1

 

[Roxicet]

Heh. I think it would be safe to assume that esposito is one of our classmates, Jeddevil.

I believe it's a good tool for students. Most students hate it. However, most students have lived a privileged life. We have no clue what it is like to be homeless, having to rely on others for care, or being a drug addict. I never did until I had to do service learning. Now I think about the disabled seniors a little differently. I think about the 40 year old homeless lady with an rx for zyvox a little differently for treatment approach. It's things like that that you will learn or suppose to learn.

I have no problem with community service. What I do have a problem with is this assumption from the school that we are all selfish, uncaring, prejudiced jerks (not just racially, but for any differences whatsoever). They don't know me, nor did anyone ask me what my life experiences have been or what my beliefs are, but apparently I need to LEARN how to be caring and tolerant of others. 👎 It's very insulting.

I agree that public service can make someone a better pharmacist, but it should be a pre-req to get into pharm school, just as o-chem and biology are pre-reqs. It does help you to see things from others' points of view, but it can never teach you to CARE. Caring is something that's either a part of your soul, or it's not. Nobody forced me to put in those 120+ hours at the free clinic last year, I did it because I do care, but they count for nothing, and my level of compassion has been unreasonably questioned. 😡

I know that working with the elderly this summer will definitely make me a better pharmacist. I'm looking forward to it. I have very little experience in working with the elderly, and I have so many questions to ask. Writing reflection papers in which I pretty much have to lie and write only what the instructor wants to hear in order to get full credit will not make me a better pharmacist.

Esposo: here's the formula you need to follow to get full credit on your reflection papers, even if it does not truly reflect your own beliefs:
1. I am a horrible person; I was wrong (pretend to hate or be ignorant of the cultural values you are discussing).
2. This exercise has changed my horrible point of view
3. This is what I'm going to do to change my evil ways
😉 Voila! Full credit!

 

[ForgetMeNot]

Esposo, are you at MWU-CPG?

I don't think so. From this post, s/he's not a pharmacy student.

"Tell me the truth guys. I don't mind if it's harsh but I want the straight up no holds barred truth.

I'm a DO and an first year student. I'm going to be a 5th year because I had to drop a class. I have done a lot better since then even getting A's on most of my exams. My aspirations have always been to do general surgery.

I'm going to get an additional MS with my extra year.

Do I have any hope of matching into a general surgery residency in the future? Or should I be realistic and start looking at other fields?"

 

[Roxicet]

It just sounds all too familiar. "esposo" could have been logged in on one of the computers at school...and the person who posted under this name may actually be a pharmacy student? We have one classmate who never logs off, and has had a few people post under his name before.

I don't think so. From this post, s/he's not a pharmacy student.

"Tell me the truth guys. I don't mind if it's harsh but I want the straight up no holds barred truth.

I'm a DO and an first year student. I'm going to be a 5th year because I had to drop a class. I have done a lot better since then even getting A's on most of my exams. My aspirations have always been to do general surgery.

I'm going to get an additional MS with my extra year.

Do I have any hope of matching into a general surgery residency in the future? Or should I be realistic and start looking at other fields?"

 

[Caverject]

I agree that public service can make someone a better pharmacist, but it should be a pre-req to get into pharm school, just as o-chem and biology are pre-reqs. It does help you to see things from others' points of view, but it can never teach you to CARE. Caring is something that's either a part of your soul, or it's not. Nobody forced me to put in those 120+ hours at the free clinic last year, I did it because I do care, but they count for nothing, and my level of compassion has been unreasonably questioned.

You deserve to be commended, especially after all the crap you have gone through in your life as of late. I realize too that no one does it for recoginition, but that is something to be proud of. Very admirable Roxy!

 

[ForgetMeNot]

It just sounds all too familiar. "esposo" could have been logged in on one of the computers at school...and the person who posted under this name may actually be a pharmacy student? We have one classmate who never logs off, and has had a few people post under his name before.

I think I saw that classmate still logged in one day in the computer lab.

Silly kid.

 

[Roxicet]

You deserve to be commended, especially after all the crap you have gone through in your life as of late. I realize too that no one does it for recoginition, but that is something to be proud of. Very admirable Roxy!

Thanks C-ject. 😳 ...all I'm saying is that if we're eligible to "test out of" certain subjects we have a lot of experience in, like microbiology or biochemistry, then why can't we use our previous service and unprivilegded background as some kind of proof of our compassionate nature? I just don't appreciate being pre-judged, which ironically is what they are trying to "teach" us not to do. 👎 It should be screened for during the admissions process, then they can decide who really cares and who doesn't, and not just assume.

 

[jdpharmd?]

Roxy nailed it. It was a horrible class/experience, arguably the worst of the entire curriculum. I have done community service before, but as Roxi said, it is assumed that you've never been off your 20 acres in the Hamptons by the way the course is taught. It was poorly organized when I had the displeasure of going through it, and my final grade dropped by one or two full letter grades because I did not follow Roxi's formula. I actually spoke my mind a few times... zero credit.

 

[off2skl]

Roxy nailed it. It was a horrible class/experience, arguably the worst of the entire curriculum. I have done community service before, but as Roxi said, it is assumed that you've never been off your 20 acres in the Hamptons by the way the course is taught. It was poorly organized when I had the displeasure of going through it, and my final grade dropped by one or two full letter grades because I did not follow Roxi's formula. I actually spoke my mind a few times... zero credit.

Yep, that's why I'll be speaking my mind when we do the evaluation. The reflections are of the fine art of BS. or should I say PharmD (piled higher and **r "I can't think of"*** much deeper).

I feel, like Roxi, that empathy is not something that is learned. And in some ways, by forcing us to do service , it is having a the opposite effect due to resentment. Also, while I feel that is good to broaden one's horizons, I would like to be able to give my time and energy to something I find personally meaningful. Six papers, 1.5 hours per week of lecture, group activities, and 20 hours of community service is just too much for a 1.5 credit hour class.