Social work discussion post

Purpose

This asks you to use early social work history to better understand how ideas from the past still shape social services and public attitudes today.

Step 1: Commit to a Position (Initial Post due Friday 2/13)

Choose ONE of the questions below and respond in 68 sentences.

Option A

Which approach do you believe has had a stronger influence on how social services operate today:

Charity Organization Societies (COS) or Settlement Houses?

• Clearly choose one.
• Explain why you think its influence is stronger today.
• Refer to one historical idea from this module (for example: moral uplift, casework, environmental change, community-based support).

Avoid saying both equally. Make a choice and explain your thinking.

Option B

Where do you see the idea of deserving vs. undeserving poor showing up today?

• Choose one clear example (policy, media, public opinion, or social services).
• Briefly explain how this idea shows up in your example.
• Connect it to one historical concept from this module (for example: COS values, Elizabethan Poor Laws, or moral judgments about poverty).

Step 2: Complicate Your Own Thinking (Required Add-On)

After posting, return to your post and add a short paragraph (45 sentences) that begins with:

A limitation or concern with my argument is…

Use this to:

• Identify and acknowledge what your argument does not fully explain
• consider who might be left out or harmed by this way of thinking
• reflect on how the issue might look different from another perspective

After learning about COS and Settlement Houses, reflect privately (1-2 short paragraphs):

• Which approach felt more aligned with your personal values?
• Did you notice any discomfort or resistance as you learned this history?
• How might your own background shape how you interpret poverty and help?