Sheri Munson-Castro
Writ 101-Winter 2008
Essay #3
Craig McKenny-Instructor
February 21st, 2008
High School Students and Community Service Hours:
This is a hot subject that has been and still as of today being talked about across the United States. And it looks like has been doing so for quite awhile. Many states have started to implement community service hours into their academic plans as a requirement for graduating from high school. Depending on what state you live in as well as the school area you are in will determine the amount of community hours you as the student will have to do. If any at all as some of the schools have not as of yet started doing this.
There have been many struggling debates over this subject during the last couple of years in Washington State. As to whether they should implement it into the academic plan for high school students. And just as of January 1st of this year it has been introduced into Seattle School District’s plan. There are many supporters on both sides of the coin on this matter. There are some of the supporters as well as some experts who feel that it’s not right for the children to have to do this without having a say in the matter at all. They have also greatly expressed in this opinion that they felt it should be something that is a choice for the students and not to be penalized if they don’t sign up for community hours and have them completed prior to their graduation.
While in the same token there are many who feel that it’s a great thing to have come along. That it helps to build confidence in them as well as connect to their community. Thus being more aware of their surroundings and the people around them. And for so many to help fill the emptiness that many have and with that void filled it will help them to go down a better path in life. As such will be able to make better choices in their life, as they will be more aware of the consequences their actions may cause.
I feel that this is so true and feel that it’s a main key factor in what happen to my daughter and her life. What has happen to her has caused her to loss five years out of her life as well as her freedom. Which I believe was due to the fact that she had no real self-esteem in herself and did not feel connected to the community. Thus, helping to cause her not to understand what the consequences from her actions could be. Or to fully feel any shame about some of her actions and the things she got involved in with others that where I belief felt as she did. That they were feeling as lost and confused as she was. Which cause them to not really be connected to their surroundings or the people in their lives or surrounding them day-to-day and in so not fully understanding that they were hurting anyone with their actions. Especially my oldest daughter who has finally open her eyes to what and who’s around her as well as recognizing that she has anger issues.
The point that I am trying to make here is this. That I have done some research into this topic after I first learned about it. Which was just after my younger children entered high school where I received a copy of the syllabus from their high school showing all the requirements needed in order to graduate. It showed that for students going to school in the Seattle School District needed to have completed 40 hours of community service prior to completing the 12th grade. Which is fully explained on the Seattle School website at: http://www.seattle.edu as well as lists what other requirements is needed to complete and graduate high school.Which in the beginning I was not really thrilled with.
I even talked to my other children about it and asked them if this was something they really wanted to do. They told me that they were okay with it and felt it help them. That it was a way to get involved with the community and help others. It made them feel special by doing this. Was a great confidence builder and help them to connect. Which I feel is something everyone needs at some time or another in his or her life.I have gone out and researched on the websites that there are out there on this topic and have discovered there are many different ones out there. And they are about split down the middle on their opinions this subject.
One of which is: http://www.browardschools.com , which has many different debates going about this very topic. Involving the positive and negative effects on students doing community service hours. Some of the articles written are by some teachers and parents as well as some students themselves regarding their thoughts on this. Many of who felt this was a great tool that helped them to develop onto the path of adulthood.There is also a Statistical Analysis Report at: http://www.ed.gov/NCES/NHES which has some great information on it written by Kathryn Candler. While this particular site where she has written her Analysis Report for the National Center for Education Statistic was done in 1997, it is a really great article and you should take a look at it.
I think this will be a great topic that will be written and discussed about for many years to come.I had also read somewhere once about a statement that Alex Haley, a famous author made: Where he was quoted as saying: “A Community is built up by the people in it.” Which I have found to be true based upon a simple fact of life. And is that by being involved in your community and connecting as one is a very important key factor in life. I feel that it helps you to learn how to be less self- centered and more of a team player in life. Also as you connect as one you are building it and yourself up together. Thus planting your roots in the community and having a sense of belonging somewhere.
I have learned so much from all of this research on this matter. I strongly feel that this is something we will come to appreciate in the future. That we have come to implement this into the academic school plans in the high schools across the United States. Who knows what lays in the future, maybe to implement this in Middle school also as well. Getting a jump start on helping to build that connection between students with their community’s as well as maybe keeping more students in school. Thus really helping students want to complete their high school education and maybe even going on to college as well.As we all live in the same community and as such needs to work together. Building our community and its people up and not helping to know it or them down.
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