Mandatory Service Requirement - Essay Example

Mandatory Service Requirement Various issues have been put as a recommendation for college to participate. One of such issues is mandatory service learning. The program is considered for implementation at Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) in which students are required to work for 30 hours. This is done as a form of volunteering. In some cases, this may act as a requirement for one to graduate in the college. The system has its success as well as a failure. In the United States, the number of schools requiring students to take part in this form of service has been on the rise (Loupe 1). The service learning traces its root to the mid-1980s. The mission of the program was to increase national service efforts among youth (Strom 1). As it is, the majority of colleges and universities have incorporated the program into their curriculums. In the United States, over one million students and 22,000 community organizations have taken part in the program (Strom 1). The mandatory service requirement may vary in different schools. It may entail building community support, allowing students to decide what to perform, training teachers, recognizing students initiatives as well as allowing students a chance to reflect on what they do (Loupe 1). These aspects are considered when it comes to enlisting the program into the curriculum. In some schools, the issue of mandatory service requirement has been adopted and received an acknowledgement from the students. However, in others, there is some form of resistance with no noticeable impact. As a result, this has led to a serious debate on whether to adopt this program wholly or to shelf it for further consideration on its effects on students and schools. Therefore, the idea of having a mandatory service requirement of 30 hours needs further consideration in EFSC. The idea should not be implemented as it has failed in some schools; it is a way of forced work, substitute academic purpose, financial challenges, as well as criticism from leaders. First, it is clear that the policy of mandatory service requirements has been a failure in those schools that it has already been started. In Jefferson Parish School, the program has been implemented with dismal outcomes. In the school, the administrators viewed the program as a way of detracting students from academic achievements (Loupe 1). The detraction can occur as the students may be required to earn hours of service during class time. The effect is that a considerable amount of time will be lost that could be used for other academic activities such as class discussion or doing homework. Secondly, such form of service should not be mandatory but rather voluntary. In most cases, the service acts as a form of civic duty. Students are in schools to achieve academic and have a successful life later. However, engaging students in mandatory service will be seen as a requirement for the academic achievement. Experts have noted that mandatory community service learning is not practical. It has been noted as a way of “creating resentment in students and hassles for administrators” (Freihage 1). Students need to engage in services through volunteering. The effects will be that students will be able to serve in various fields without having a feeling of being coerced. In some schools, the mandatory service has failed to achieve the intended purpose. For example, in one of the parish schools, the administrators prodded students into completing the number of required hours by indicating their service hours on report cards (Loupe 1). However, the administrators noted a significant weakness. The results showed that only 35 percent of the students that participated in the program completed their hours (Loupe 1). The administrators advised the school board to abandon the policy. The statistics are a clear indication that mandatory work does not achieve the intended purpose. Also, mandatory service learning should not be a prerequisite for graduation. The schools should strive to achieve an increase in academic achievements for students and not dictating that they participate in the program. This should be the essence of the school system. Hence, graduation should be to the achievement of minimum grades alone. In fact, experts have noted that involvement by students in some of the services has no bearing on their academic future (Loupe 1). In those areas where service learning is practiced, it seems to have no association with the curriculum. For example, it may entail painting of park benches, and this may be hard to differentiate from plain vanilla community service (Strom 1). The mandatory service learning can also be subject to financial challenges. Most of the programs require some form of capital incentives. Some of the organizations that are mandated to implement the program may lack administrative structures as well as capital to train and supervise students (Strom 1). In some organization, they lack the importance of such programs and even tend to consider them as luxuries. The effect will be failure to achieve the goals of the programs, and this may lead to it being viewed as a waste of time by the students. Therefore, the EFSC should not implement this idea without knowing that there is a guarantee of financial support. In the college, there are education-related programs that lack enough funding. This means that this new program is also likely to experience the same problem. The mandatory service learning may also face challenges when it comes to supervision. In this scenario, the teachers, and some administrators will most likely be the one responsible for supervision. In most of the cases, these people have other responsibilities that overwhelm them in the school environment. Experts note that failure to offer proper coordination to service learning by the academic institution will most likely place a burden on the community partner (Strom 1). For the program to be successful a lot of dedication to time and planning is necessary by the academic institution as well as the faculty. As a result, there should be no rush in implementing the program in the institution as a lot is required. Failure to plan will mean the program will be a failure and offer no benefit to the students. In some cases, the service learning has received criticism from community leaders. As per these leaders, they have noted that students involved in the program lack the necessary experience that is crucial in offering the training to the leaders (Strom 1). There are also leaders that note students come to them with inadequate preparation from their professors. At the same time, there are leaders that noted that such students offer meaningful help to the society. In fact, the thirty hours mandatory service requirement by the EFSC is less to have a lasting impact on the society. Therefore, the program should not be adopted just as a way of ensuring the school is part of it. More consideration is needed of the intended purpose and its benefit to the society and the students. This will require more consultation between the institution and the community leaders where the program is being implemented. Furthermore, the mandatory service requirement will also be of detriment to those college students working to support their studies. Most of the students depend on these jobs to be able to survive during their college years. The service will take a considerable amount of time that may be necessary to get extra cash for studies in schools. The effect is that some of the students will find it a challenge to pay bills. At the same time, there are those students that take extra classes and hence taking part in other activities will mean there will be less time for such classes. The financial burden of most of the college students in United States is on the rise and hence students should be given enough time to work and be able to help families that find it a challenge in financing their children education (Orszag, Jonathan, Orszag, Peter and Whitmore 1). Therefore, the idea should be stopped for further consultation on how to address some of these challenges. In conclusion, it is clear that mandatory service requirement is not a good idea to implement in EFSC. The program has been linked with various challenges. Some of these challenges affect students’ academic standards. Hence, the implementation of the program needs to be stopped for further consultation. Works Cited Freihage, Erika. “Overview of the Governors Call to Service.” Calstate.edu. Web. 03 July 2015. Loupe, Diane. “Community Service: Mandatory or Voluntary?” Aasa.org. Web. 03 July 2015. Orszag, Jonathan, Orszag, Peter and Whitmore, Diane. “Learning and Earning: Working In College.” Brockport.edu. Web. 03 July 2015. Strom, Stephanie. “Does Service Learning Really Help?” Nytimes.com. Web. 03 July 2015. Read More