Keywords

service-learning pedagogy, moral imagination, management education

Abstract

The Old Testament prophet/poet Isaiah speaks of the eventual redemption of the children of Abraham and uses a powerful metaphor to invite his followers to action: "Enlarge thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes" (Isaiah 54:2, King James Version). In the spirit of enlarging the tent and strengthening the stakes of the service-learning movement, Kenworthy-U'Ren's (1999, this issue) commentary to my article, "Service-Learning and Management Education: A Call to Action" (1999, this issue), proves a valuable and wonderful contribution. The strength of her commentary comes from the different perspective it advances; her use of the mission statements of our respective institutions clearly embodies that difference. Kenworthy-U'Ren shows that service-learning courses can build on philosophical foundations that have only ancillary connections to morality. These differences work to enlarge the tent, and strengthen the stakes, of service-learning pedagogy in management education. This brief rejoinder aims to clarify a definition (moral imagination), present a caveat around the moral purposes of servicelearning (service-learning versus experiential education), explore a pedagogical issue (required vs. voluntary participation), and highlight and celebrate some different philosophical perspectives that will enlarge the tent and strengthen the stakes of service-learning.

Original Publication Citation

Godfrey, P. C. (1999). A rejoinder to Kenworthy: Enlarging the tent of service-learning. Journal of Management Inquiry, 8: 388-390.