Every spring, students scour the thick packet of class offerings before signing up for the following year’s schedule. While students have a variety of options available to them, some classes, such as a semester of government, are required.
Alongside learning about founding principles of the nation, students must complete 12 hours of community service or participation in a government related activity to graduate.
I understand the attempt by the administration to encourage volunteerism. However, students should volunteer because they want to, not because they have to.
It is evident through the involvement of students in the National Honor Society (NHS) and Student Council that they want to give back to their community. According to the NHS, it’s global student membership is close to one million.
These students seek to make the world a better place with every hour of community service.
Many students naturally have an interest in using their talents to help others. But, requiring the volunteer hours simply takes some of the fun away. Instead of making the decision to serve themselves, students feel that they are forced into it, and retract.
A study done by the National Center for Education Statistics found that students with mandatory high school service hours “were less likely to volunteer [two years out of high school]” than students who voluntarily served.
Only when students are intrinsically motivated to volunteer will they truly invest, enjoy and value the experience.
Additionally, not every student is in the position to serve. According to Forbes, public transportation is not an option for many families because they can’t afford two bus tickets a day. Lack of both the personal and public transportation option makes getting to volunteer opportunities difficult.
Although volunteering certainly benefits both the individual and a community, not everyone can make it happen. Encouraging and giving students the opportunity to volunteer, without requiring it, is the best way to make a difference.
