Should Students be required to perform "Community Service"?

[Imagineer7]

Yeah this is a good idea for a teen

Force a teen to volunteer ....

What would that accomplish??????????????????

Nothing but resentment

Do teens generate a lifetime of resentment towards their parents because they were forced to do chores?

 

[GinnyEmma]

Do teens generate a lifetime of resentment towards their parents because they were forced to do chores?

Lol, probably! Schools are the cause of all their problems and attitudes!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I get it clearly, I think it's you who refuses to understand that if a school decides to institute this policy, your kids will be at the food bank getting their hours done.

Not in the district I was in. We weren't allowed to work for religious groups. Our food banks are all run by churches.

 

[GinnyEmma]

There are two arguments against. One involves the mandate if our educational system. I agree with that one, in theory. The other, that it will turn students against helping for a lifetime, is ridiculous. And as I stated earlier, hogwash.

 

[tvguy]

Of course organizations rely on volunteers but you are missing the point. If you force students into volunteering, the chances are that a vast majority of them will be resentful and do little or nothing for the organization other than put in their time. (Others have given examples of this on this thread.) If an organizations recruits volunteers or has them come to them on their own, the chances are the volunteers will want to be there and actally contribute to the organization.

Well, the volunteer who overseas the volunteers at our Food Bank is 78 years old, and attended my children's high school, and volunteered there 62 years ago as HER community service project for school, and has been there every since. My kids high school prides themselves in how many of their graduates continue to volunteer at organizations they were first exposed to through their community service. There is also a guy from my kids school who had been volunteering there 30 years, also as a result of his community services.
So, you could be right, but it certainly hasn't been my experience that the kids resent the community service, it actually builds a foundation for a lifetime of community service.

 

[Art 1]

Only on the Dis could community service as a graduation requirement be considered a bad thing.

 

[declansdad]

Well, the volunteer who overseas the volunteers at our Food Bank is 78 years old, and attended my children's high school, and volunteered there 62 years ago as HER community service project for school, and has been there every since. My kids high school prides themselves in how many of their graduates continue to volunteer at organizations they were first exposed to through their community service. There is also a guy from my kids school who had been volunteering there 30 years, also as a result of his community services.
So, you could be right, but it certainly hasn't been my experience that the kids resent the community service, it actually builds a foundation for a lifetime of community service.

I have never said that all kids would resent it but it only takes a few to make life difficult for the groups that would be using them. The best situation would be as suggested earlier, make this an elective not a required course. Doing so would mean the students who decided to participate would be looking at actually helping and not simply showing up to get the hours.

 

[Imagineer7]

Only on the Dis could community service as a graduation requirement be considered a bad thing.

Amen!

 

[Imagineer7]

I have never said that all kids would resent it but it only takes a few to make life difficult for the groups that would be using them. The best situation would be as suggested earlier, make this an elective not a required course. Doing so would mean the students who decided to participate would be looking at actually helping and not simply showing up to get the hours.

It wouldn't be difficult for the groups at all. All the high school needs to do is impose a rule that your supervisor at the volunteer organization needs to give your performance a review after your hours are complete. If you did a bad job and gave everyone there lip and attitude, then you fail and don't meet the service requirement needed for graduation. This will keep most people in line and the ones that still jerk around don't deserve to graduate.

 

[hereyago]

Only on the Dis could community service as a graduation requirement be considered a bad thing.

One of my friends got all in a tizzy kind of like this thread when our girls's elementary school wanted to go to uniforms. she called the school board and told them if her kid was going to wear a uniform, then she better see every teacher, wear them as well.

I guess that intimidation from her and others work because the school backed down, but other schools have just gone to uniforms no asking, just suck it up butter cup.

what is funny is that the people are so against it, what will the students do when they get to be adults and then a company they work for "insists" on having a percentage go to say United Way? Would they say no and look bad for the company?

 

[Imagineer7]

what is funny is that the people are so against it, what will the students do when they get to be adults and then a company they work for "insists" on having a percentage go to say United Way? Would they say no and look bad for the company?

They would call declansdad and hire him to be their civil liberties advocate!

 

[declansdad]

They would call declansdad and hire him to be their civil liberties advocate!

No need to take shots.

It is unfortunate that you fail to see the point of view of the non profit and the impact that forced volunteers have on them.

 

[luvmy3]

Only on the Dis could community service as a graduation requirement be considered a bad thing.

No, not only on the DIS. There are plenty of people IRL who oppose it as well

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Bottom line is that if public schools wanted to institute a community service requirement for graduation, they would be within their legal rights to do so. And I would stand up and commend them for it. About time the young generation gives back instead of just taking.

Not necessarily. You assume they are...

Education is a basic right in the US. It isn't a privilege. It doesn't have to be earned by some duty elsewhere, off school grounds. In fact, since legitimate groups would not be allowed in some states, it could be argued that it is a violation of civil liberties.

Maybe they should require community service prior to getting a driver's license. Then at least, it is correlated with earning a privilege.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If you're going to take the line of thought young people shouldn't be forced to volunteer, then they shouldn't be forced to do anything.

1) They shouldn't be forced by their parents to go to church. They should have the liberty to choose.
2) They shouldn't be forced to get summer jobs during high school. They should have the liberty to choose.
3) They shouldn't be forced to do chores around the house. They should have the liberty to choose.

Or let me guess what you will say.. each parent gets to decide what to force their children to do. So when it benefits the parents, they will force the children to do whatever. But when it benefits society at large, how dare they!! Oh the outrage.

Families have the right to conduct their family business as they see fit as it pertains to child rearing (obvious abuse aside...vacuuming is not child abuse.)


Families have the right to press upon their children volunteerism.

Families do not have the right to not educate their children...they must send them to public, private, or homeschool them (as per the laws of their state dictate). The child has a right to an education and the parent cannot interfere with that right.

Requiring students to work for their right that is guaranteed by law, isn't right.

While it may be good for society, it is their civil right to be educated without providing service hours to earn their education.

Should they volunteer? Sure.

Should they be required in order to receive what they are rightfully entitled? Never.

If it is so important, the schools can provide the transportation and the opportunity during school hours.

 

[RLccweems]

 

[tvguy]

Only on the Dis could community service as a graduation requirement be considered a bad thing.

Yep. Sort of like saying something bad about mom, apple pie or the flag.
It is interesting to read the comments of those opposed, especially those who had not heard of a community service requirement. It was required when I was in High School, and I graduated in 1975, and was required of my kids too. But there are folks around here that even think kids being required to just go to school at all is wrong.

 

[declansdad]

Yep. Sort of like saying something bad about mom, apple pie or the flag.
It is interesting to read the comments of those opposed, especially those who had not heard of a community service requirement. It was required when I was in High School, and I graduated in 1975, and was required of my kids too. But there are folks around here that even think kids being required to just go to school at all is wrong.

I don't recall anyone on this thread making a comment like that.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Families have the right to conduct their family business as they see fit as it pertains to child rearing (obvious abuse aside...vacuuming is not child abuse.)


Families have the right to press upon their children volunteerism.

Families do not have the right to not educate their children...they must send them to public, private, or homeschool them (as per the laws of their state dictate). The child has a right to an education and the parent cannot interfere with that right.

Requiring students to work for their right that is guaranteed by law, isn't right.

While it may be good for society, it is their civil right to be educated without providing service hours to earn their education.

Should they volunteer? Sure.

Should they be required in order to receive what they are rightfully entitled? Never.

If it is so important, the schools can provide the transportation and the opportunity during school hours.

Well said

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Yep. Sort of like saying something bad about mom, apple pie or the flag.
It is interesting to read the comments of those opposed, especially those who had not heard of a community service requirement. It was required when I was in High School, and I graduated in 1975, and was required of my kids too. But there are folks around here that even think kids being required to just go to school at all is wrong.

I have read the thread, but I must have missed that one.