Should Students be required to perform "Community Service"?

[Pigeon]

But employers give no credit for experience gained through community service. I have never once seen any evidence of that.

I don't think that's entirely true. I've been on many search committees. There is some volunteer work that gets a little credit, if you are the person who is in charge of a big project. I'd rather hire the person with experience chairing the board of volunteers over somebody with no experiece at all. It does not rank equally with paid employment though, not even close, I'll grant you that.

The type of volunteer work that does get you some credit though is not the type of forced labor we're talking about here. The vast majority of kids doing forced labor aren't going to be getting leadership experience or practice organizing events. They are going to be putting in their hours doing drudge work. And for kids who want to get experience doing meaningful volunteer work on their own, there is nothing to stop them. So the idea that this is great as a requirement because it will be valued by employers is nonsense.

As is the idea that this will be some wonderful boon to students on their college applications. Again, there's nothing stopping motivated kids to voluteer without a requirement. And college admissions officers aren't stupid. They can easily find out if forced labor is a requirement.

 

[Imagineer7]

The Catholic schools have "A" opportunities and "B" opportunities. A are hard and sweaty ones, B are fun ones. As you get older, the more A hours you have to earn. In either case, the community service has to be real and verifiable and something that benefits the community.

Not a big fan of that methodology. There are tons, TONS, of different and varied opportunities to volunteer. I think every child should get to pick the opportunity that they find most interesting. They will be more interested in it, will do a better job, and will probably learn a lot more from the experience, than simply being forced to do something they don't want to do.

When I was in high school (Catholic one by the way), I had to complete 50 hours of CS to graduate. I volunteered at a children's hospital in Chicago because I wanted to work with young kids. It was great, had an amazing time, and I actually looked forward to it each time I did it.

 

[Cat0727]

I was required to complete 25 hours of community service each year in high school. It was easier to complete when you had a friend or family member go with you.

 

[Ceila]

But employers give no credit for experience gained through community service. I have never once seen any evidence of that.

In 1979, I was interviewing for a job at my college's library. The librarian interviewing me told me point blank, "Don't put this volunteer information on the application. It does not count." I actually questioned him about it later because as a volunteer I had some great leadership experiences and gained valuable skills, while my paid employment consisted of being a grocery store cashier and was a totally clerical job. He told me, "The only employment that counts is PAID employment. Period."

And that has been the truth for every HR situation I've been in from an applicant to a member of a hiring committee. The last hire I did was for a position with responsibilities coordinating volunteers. I was the only person on the committee who thought experience as a volunteer was important. Everyone else just Xed through those portions of the applicants' resumes.

After 35 years in the working world, I have long since realized that volunteer activities mean squat to employers.

I hope people don't get the wrong impression be reading your post. Obviously you, personally, haven't seen volunteerism have an impact on a hiring decision, but that doesn't mean that it never happens.

I have to say that I have not had the same experience as you, and I've been on the applicant as well as the HR side of the coin. At a certain level of management, of course, you are looking for someone with work experience, but depending on the position and the volunteer experience, it can and does count in many situations.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Required? No.

"Compulsory Volunteer" is an oxymoron.

Special Credit? I'd be OK with that.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Our kids had mandatory community service back in the 90's. I never could figure out how that helps in the long run. I'm a huge believer that homework and classroom are the most important over community service during the school year. My kids were always on the honor roll so they did fine but I felt bad for the ones that were struggling at school and still needed to add in community service. On top of that, the parents need to find time from work to get them to where they are going to serve.

 

[Imagineer7]

Our kids had mandatory community service back in the 90's. I never could figure out how that helps in the long run. I'm a huge believer that homework and classroom are the most important over community service during the school year. My kids were always on the honor roll so they did fine but I felt bad for the ones that were struggling at school and still needed to add in community service. On top of that, the parents need to find time from work to get them to where they are going to serve.

"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I don't think it is REQUIRED for DS to graduate, but it is ENCOURAGED. Which is fine. The problem is there are so many other requirements for DS to meet I don't know when he would have time to do community service.

He is not an academic kind of guy - last year he spent a lot of time in tutoring. He goes to an arts magnet high school, and they are required to do "crew" hours after school for a certain number of hours each semester. They also perform, which is the point of a performing arts school. So he has auditions, rehearsals and shows. He doesn't drive yet, so it falls to us to take him where he needs to go in the summer. DH and I both work full time.

I understand the benefits of volunteering - I have done hundreds of hours of volunteering with local non-profits. I have co-chaired fundraisers. It is great. But I am not a teenager trying to do a crap ton of other stuff (like maintain a decent GPA) so I don't want DS to be REQUIRED to do it.

 

[Imagineer7]

But employers give no credit for experience gained through community service. I have never once seen any evidence of that.

After 35 years in the working world, I have long since realized that volunteer activities mean squat to employers.

That's simply not true. I put it on my resumes and always get asked about it. By the way, I work in portfolio management, which about the last industry that you would think cares about volunteer work.

When I interviewed with a hedge fund back in 2005, it was made clear they like hiring people who are very smart, but also "good" people who are nice, sociable, and easy to get along with. They were impressed with the volunteer work and told me point blank that those are the kinds of intangibles they look for.

 

[punkin]

It's a big joke around here. DD got community service "volunteering" for her teacher's camp. Basically she was unpaid labor, but in addition to the "community service" she got a higher grade in the class. What a hoax.

 

[mamacatnv]

I don't think anyone thinks that service work is a bad thing overall for teens. I just don't think it is something that a public school has the right to mandate nor do I think they should.

 

[Imagineer7]

I don't think anyone thinks that service work is a bad thing overall for teens. I just don't think it is something that a public school has the right to mandate nor do I think they should.

Of course they have the right to mandate it. A public school would be well within their legal rights to require a certain amount of hours to graduate. I doubt they do it but they certainly could if they felt that it was the best course of action to take.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Of course they have the right to mandate it. A public school would be well within their legal rights to require a certain amount of hours to graduate. I doubt they do it but they certainly could if they felt that it was the best course of action to take.

Setting "legal rights" aside for the moment, where would you limit the schools in their right to decide the "best course of action" for our children?

 

[luvmy3]

Of course they have the right to mandate it. A public school would be well within their legal rights to require a certain amount of hours to graduate. I doubt they do it but they certainly could if they felt that it was the best course of action to take.

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.
C.S Lewis

 

[mamacatnv]

Of course they have the right to mandate it. A public school would be well within their legal rights to require a certain amount of hours to graduate. I doubt they do it but they certainly could if they felt that it was the best course of action to take.

I don't agree that a school district has the right to mandate service.

Several people on this thread have stated it is a REQUIREMENT for a diploma in their public schools.

I don't agree that a school district has the right to decide that service work is the best course of action for pupils.

 

[tvguy]

Setting "legal rights" aside for the moment, where would you limit the schools in their right to decide the "best course of action" for our children?

We live in a civilized society where government is elected by the people to set laws and standards. Schools are just following the standards set by the people via government. The people, via the Government tells us what what the minimum standards are we need to graduate from high school, what the minimum standards are to be able to vote, what the minimum standards are to be able to drive, what the minimum standards are to to practice medicine, practice law, fly a plane, etc, etc.
If a school sets community service as a to receive a diploma, you are free to move your child to another school that does not have that requirement

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

... If a school sets community service as a to receive a diploma, you are free to move your child to another school that does not have that requirement

Of course I am, but you didn't answer the question that you quoted.

 

[Imagineer7]

I don't agree that a school district has the right to mandate service.

Several people on this thread have stated it is a REQUIREMENT for a diploma in their public schools.

I don't agree that a school district has the right to decide that service work is the best course of action for pupils.

You would be wrong. The following is an excerpt stating the law:

"Requirements to graduate from a US high school vary in each state. Many states recommend minimum standards but also allow school districts to add additional graduation requirements to the standard minimums. One of these additions can be that students must volunteer to graduate high school. This means students may have to spend some time acquiring “service” hours with reputable nonprofit agencies in order to earn their diplomas."

 

[tvguy]

But employers give no credit for experience gained through community service. I have never once seen any evidence of that.
.

Check the resume building sites on the web. They suggest putting community service on your resume.

I know my bosses look at that. But, I have to admit part of that may be tied to the fact that the corporation that owns us expects us to volunteer somewhere during the year, and we are allowed 1 day a year with pay off from work to do it.

 

[tvguy]

Of course I am, but you didn't answer the question that you quoted.

The school district should set the limits, within the rules the school board sets, within the rules set by the state board of education, within rules set by the legislature, with in the ruless set by the US. Department of Education, within the rules set by the U.S government.
Since every step of that process involves public hearings, and elected officials accountable to the people, I guess my final answer is....the people.