Reading for Reflection:
Johnson, C. (2001). Strength in community. In R. Gilchrist & T. Jeffs (Eds.), Settlements, social change, and community action: Good neighbours (pp. 69-91). Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
On what did the
efforts reflected in the readings above focus?
This reading was a "brief introduction to the history and impact of the organizations which belong to the International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers (IFS)" (69). The writing was mainly a historical look into the beginning activities (mostly in the UK but expanding into the US) of how neighborhoods became involved in active means of support and promotion of international links, global vision and co-operation (70).
From where did the
leadership for these efforts come?
Leadership for settlement houses cam from from individual people such as Jane Adams (Hull House) and Samuel Augustus Barnett (St. Judes-East End), as well as Universities, such as Oxford University's Toynbee Hall (72).
What happened as a
result of these efforts?
The formation of community services, social services and community education can be directly tied to the endeavors of these settlement houses (77), which based their work on three main points:
- every person has a right to grow and "enjoy the best"
- effective change is evolutionary
- strong communities and positive social reform depend on personal communication across the social and economic divisions(73).
What, if anything, do
the kinds of education described and discussed in the readings listed below and
their underlying ideas have to offer contemporary educators?
Toynbee Hall (among others) created an importan framework, from which many other community organizations/educational entities would borrow: "through direct personal encounter people were enable to go beyond appearances and preconceptions and to get to know and value the individuality and humanity of each other, thus leading to greater respect for others and for themselves while building a stronger sense of community" (73). Sounds about right to me.
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