Compulsory Community Service - Essay Example

Introduction

A compulsory community service program for high school students is operative in many countries. This type of service is aimed at inculcating values, discipline and, an attitude to serve society and the nation. Such programs have proved to be quite successful as well. Diplomas are not awarded to students dodging the service. Under the new proposal from the school board, all teenagers would be required to complete fifty hours as a volunteer working with accredited local voluntary organizations.

Learning about the Society

This would indeed prove to be a learning experience for the students, as they’d get first-hand knowledge about the lesser privileged class of our society, the pain of the sick, the sufferings of senior citizens, concern for the environment, requirements of the homeless and destitute, etc.

The burden on the Youth?

Though there is a school of thought which argues that putting so much burden on young minds may prove to be a little too much. Their contention is, that young minds be allowed to study and enjoy their teens instead of a day’s physical labor. But, it must be emphasized here that, young minds happen to be quite receptive towards the issues if these are explained to them in the right perspective, as these young ones are free from bias and prejudice. If at this age, they are allowed to get a feel of society and how their small contributions can bring happiness to the faces of many people; these teenagers are bound to integrate these learning experiences into their life ahead.

Youth: Hope for Better Tomorrow

There are critics of such a proposal who contend that it is important to hold one’s own life as his/ her highest value. The contention is that being needy doesn’t confer on some people a moral claim to free labor from others. Such critics could be termed as correct in their argument if we look the individual lives as individual identities. Unfortunately, this is not the case, for survival, we are all very much dependent on each other, the surrounding, the environment, and society at large. Teenagers are the future of our society. They are the ones who can make a difference in the development of the nation with their constructive contribution in many forms. A voluntary service at this stage will surely help in preparing them towards facing the realities of life in times to come. In addition, these young minds will also come to know about the fact that they owe their existence to the environment, and the sanctity of the environment is to be guarded jealously to lead a healthy life.

Conclusion

It is, therefore, my humble submission that the proposal to add community service as a prerequisite for high school graduation will not only provide the student an opportunity to practically implement some of the bookish knowledge but will surely help in developing him;

• Values and Character
• Wholesome development of the personality
• Awareness about nature/ environment and the necessity of guarding it.
• Respect for elders
• Feeling of being an integral part of the society
• Sense of responsibility
• Helping and co-operative attitude toward fellow citizens
• Strength for bearing the responsibility, whenever the need arises
• Leadership qualities