Who's in Charge? Examining the Complex Nature of Student Voice in Service-Learning Projects

 In this chapter, the author discusses how teachers and students can share authority during youth civic engagement projects. Epstein presents an analysis of two cases that show examples of students acting with authority and raising their voices in response to relevant social issues. The cases also illustrate the potential for teachers to limit student decision-making, despite opportunities for students to assume even greater empowerment in the context of their civic work. Ultimately, this study suggests the importance of constant teacher reflection on questions of voice and authority during service-learning projects.