Thanks, Esther, and I agree with the points you make, too. It occurs to me now that perhaps schools could offer a Community Service elective course, where students could get course credit for a class whose sole purpose is to organize and develop community service projects, if they choose to take the course. Perhaps some school already offer a course like that, I don't know. Encouraging students to do community service is great, but because of the individual situations in students' lives it should not be a requirement. In FL we have a program where students are rewarded for community service with college scholarship programs.

Sarah, you made some good points. I also worry about children who have a lot of problems and need help themselves being forced to do community service. It may be difficult or impossible for them to do so and that could prevent them from graduating. I also repeat I was a Girl Scout leader and had them make Easter Baskets for kids who were in some kind of government home because their parents could not care for them for various reasons. They did something nice for others and also realized that other children were not as lucky as they were. I just don't like the idea of forcing children to do community service because all situations are not the same.

I should add that making it a requirement, something students will see as a chore, will discourage them from doing community service later in their lives. Community service should come from the heart. People will work harder at their community service if it is something they are truly passionate about and can do with a loving heart. It can become a habit and not a requirement done once in someone's life.

Students have enough work to do. Better if they have any free time at all for them to get paying jobs. Community service should be done, but not as a requirement. Better that more adults start incorporating it into their lives (and encouraging their families to do it as well) so that society as a whole can do it and not force it upon one segment of the population.

Never really thought about it, but it seems like a good idea. Might actually help the kids get some useful experiences and help somebody out.

After a bit of thought, I find I quite like the idea of requiring community service for graduation. High school students represent a massive force that can be harnessed for the good of local communities, while teaching the students the value of charitable action.

Yes, many kids need to be exposed to a sense of belonging to their own community. There are a lot of them who remain ignorant. Working for the community will help them develop a good character and allow them to feel proud of contributing back. It also brightens up their school transcripts and might help give them an extra push to be picked into the college of their choice.

In middle school one of the teachers arranged for us to volunteer at a local "old folks home" and it was a great experience for me. In high school I could barely keep up with home work, drama at home, and actually learning the subject. I don't think I should be have been penalized for not having time for another task.

I will repeat again. Some students have very tough lives and could use some help themselves. That is why I would not force them to volunteer for something in order to graduate. I think it will increase the number of the students who do not graduate. Lets not make their lives even more difficult than it already is. If the volunteer work can be done during school hours, it might be okay, but not after school hours.

Volunteerism is part of a participatory democracy. If a student is to graduate from a public institution, he or she should be a registered voter and volunteer.