Should Students be required to perform "Community Service"?

[Imagineer7]

I feel like the responses on the last couple pages is more about lazy parents who don't want to transport their kids to the volunteer activities more than anything else. Which is sad, really sad.

 

[bicker]

"Please explain how forcing people to help community organizations in a manner that causes more work for that organization is good for soceity overall?" Bicker, you have not answered this question.

First: Ask a question that doesn't presume a conclusion you want to support. Second: The legitimate question closest to the inanely self-serving inquiry you made has already been answered a couple of times in this thread. To placate you I'll answer it again:

The value of have students perform community service is that they come to understand that their actions impact others, and that living in community with others means giving back when you can, rather than just living selfishly all your life. Also community service assignments could offer the ability to learn better communication skills by connecting with others in a public atmosphere. Other specific benefits vary depending on the specific services. For example, some opportunities will teach students that others may or may not have the same opportunities or capabilities as they do.

I wonder if you are legitimately questioning that value. You seem to be only trying to disparage the idea behind the cover of whining about how it adds a little extra work for folks who operate such community organizations. Your whole premise in that regard is actually ridiculous, since organizations that are significantly adversely affected by hosting community service simply wouldn't offer to do so.

 

[Imagineer7]

Your whole premise in that regard is actually ridiculous, since organizations that are significantly adversely affected by hosting community service simply wouldn't offer to do so.

Truer words have never been spoken. What declansdad is failing to understand is that schools are not putting a gun to an organization's head, so to speak, forcing them to participate. If an organization has had trouble with young kids before and don't feel it's worth it to participate, they won't. Nothing else needs to be said.

 

[Holly]

I'm not sure it should be mandated, although I require community service of my own children in hopes that they don't become lazy, entitled monsters like a lot of their peers.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

I feel like the responses on the last couple pages is more about lazy parents who don't want to transport their kids to the volunteer activities more than anything else. Which is sad, really sad.

When my children cannot convert people to think their way and their way only they resort to flinging insults too.

 

[bicker]

I must have missed the "service hours" curriculum and accompanying materials.

You didn't miss it - it is missing. That's why this proposal was made.

You must have never heard of Project Follow Through. I'll help you out. . .

Evidently, reasonable researchers disagree about what that study proves:

House, E., Glass, G., McLean, L., & Walker, D. (1978). No simple answer: Critique of the FT evaluation. Harvard Educational Review, 48(2), 128-160).

I believe, based on personal experience, that different people learn differently, and that many people learn better by doing, and that certain things, such as affective development, are often served best by experiential learning rather than book and classroom learning, where basic (cognitive/academic) skills are best taught.

But everyone within any of those classes is receiving the same instruction of that required class curriculum.

If you believe that all students learn the same during a class, then you've never been a teacher, nor a student. As it is, every student serving the same community service post receives the "same instruction". Two students serving different community service posts learn different things, just like one student taking Chemistry and one student taking Earth Science learns different things.

I still think that objective is better met within the guidelines and curriculum of an actual "class" on civics.

And for you, as a student, that might be true, and false for someone else as a student.

Yes. . .not that specific standard per se, but their are clear objectives and assessments based on standards.

Totally ignoring the fact that students have different physical capabilities. That's ridiculous.

 

[Imagineer7]

When my children cannot convert people to think their way and their way only they resort to flinging insults too.

They must have unyielding parents who refuse to compromise and think they are always right!

 

[TheIncredibles!]

They must have unyielding parents who refuse to compromise and think they are always right!

Nope they're just kids acting childish - which is perfectly ok for kids to do

It's ok for people to not think the same way you do. There is no ONE right way to teach children about life, responsibilities to society and how to be good people.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yes, I believe it is a good analogy I posted. We'll just have to agree to disagree.

But it will be like picking the AP Chemistry class, given that the AP exam costs $85 out-of-pocket. And it will be like choosing between Health Class or Family Living & Parenting, given that one of the two choices requires parental approval for explicit sexual information to be gone-over. And it will be like choosing marching band to satisfy the FINE ARTS AND/OR PRACTICAL ARTS requirement, given that to pass band you have to participate in performances during the Friday night football games, or orchestra, which requires participating in the two evening recitals to receive a passing grade.

If you think that's not already the case, then you really need to read-up on it.

I already mentioned one: Home Ec.

Home ec was never mandated for me. I took it. But it was an elective of my choice.

As for the rest--it is still a choice. Some schools do not make students pay AP fees.

Arts requirements do not necessarily have to be a performing art.

Everything you have posted is a CHOICE and not a mandate. Those who choose, then agree to what is involved.

I could have graduated high school without a performing art. I wanted to get a guaranteed scholarship, but it required a performing art. So I took Chorus my senior year. I do not recall if I was 100% obligated to perform in the one concert we did. But I still had the choice to graduate without it.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I feel like the responses on the last couple pages is more about lazy parents who don't want to transport their kids to the volunteer activities more than anything else. Which is sad, really sad.

You should probably take a closer look at what fellow posters are actually trying to say.

 

[bicker]

As for the rest--it is still a choice.

As this would be.

Arts requirements do not necessarily have to be a performing art.

Uh, perhaps you should take your own advice to Imagineer7:

You should probably take a closer look at what fellow posters are actually trying to say.

As I've said about a half dozen times already, students could be given a choice between community service and a Civics class.

Everything you have posted is a CHOICE and not a mandate.

No; they are all both. Every single one of those specifications I posted was taken from the section "Graduation Requirements". There are choices within each requirement, but you must pick either 'A' or 'B' or 'C', just like I would have student choose between community service and a Civics class.

Those who choose, then agree to what is involved.

101% in agreement with my perspective.

 

[Imagineer7]

Nope they're just kids acting childish - which is perfectly ok for kids to do

It's ok for people to not think the same way you do. There is no ONE right way to teach children about life, responsibilities to society and how to be good people.

You can think anyway you want, no matter how misguided it might be.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

You can think anyway you want, no matter how misguided it might be.

That's right I forgot. You are right and everybody else is wrong.

 

[Imagineer7]

That's right I forgot. You are right and everybody else is wrong.

Everybody? I didn't realize I was the only one on this thread who thinks volunteering should be mandated. Reading is fundamental.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

As this would be.

I'm sorry--perhaps we are discussing different things...

The topic is mandated community service for an education/diploma.

How is it a choice if a student cannot get to a facility that may be a better opportunity for them that is 10 miles away and because they lack transportation options, their only choice becomes no choice at all.

They get to be janitor. Humiliating.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

Everybody? I didn't realize I was the only one on this thread who thinks volunteering should be mandated. Reading is fundamental.

Everybody meaning everybody that is disagreeing with you. I thought that was obvious but I guess further clarification was required.

I'll say it again - there is no ONE right way.........

 

[Imagineer7]

They get to be janitor. Humiliating.

Being a janitor is humiliating? What gives you the right to look down your nose at janitors?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

As this would be.

Uh, perhaps you should take your own advice to Imagineer7:

​

As I've said about a half dozen times already, students could be given a choice between community service and a Civics class.

Indeed, I missed that.

I was addressing the sole requirement and not an opt out.

An opt out, would be fine.

Though all I recall of civics was state and local govt issues and voting and the civic duties that pertain to that. Nothing about volunteerism.

 

[bicker]

I'm sorry--perhaps we are discussing different things... The topic is mandated community service for an education/diploma.

With an option to satisfy the requirement by taking a Civics class instead. If that wasn't what you were talking about, then you weren't replying to my messages, because I've been saying the same exact things since the beginning of this thread.

How is it a choice if a student cannot get to a facility

How is it a choice is a student is Jewish and cannot participate in marching bad at the Friday night football games?

I see what you're presenting as excuses, not significant objections. Students having a choice to take a Civics class instead obviate all your concerns, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Imagineer7]

Everybody meaning everybody that is disagreeing with you. I thought that was obvious but I guess further clarification was required.

I'll say it again - there is no ONE right way.........

Proper sentence structure is required in order to express thoughts.

There is a right way when it is backed up by the law. If a school wanted to impose a volunteering requirement in order to graduate, they would be able to do. And there isn't anything you could do about it, except transport your children wherever it is they need to go.