Exciting new challenge for Big J

[Hello, Mini!]

Stephen has always been the type to go around the neighborhood with two bags--one for trash, and one for recycling. He was asked when he was in first grade if he was doing it for the Scouts or some other organization, and he replied he was doing it because it needed to be done (especially around the construction sites--I guess the beer-drinking kids like having a Port-o-Potty for their girlfriends?) Now he goes out in his kayak after storms and cleans up the stuff that gets washed into the waterways.

The problem is his school has a requirement for community service, but the form has to be signed by an organization, so he usually just goes on the trips arranged by the school to get his hours. I have to see if I can find a way for him to get credit for what he already does now that the hours got bumped up since he's in the Upper School.

What does he do with the cans? Does he recycle them for money? Could he make an arrangement with some local organization where he does his pick ups, reclycles the cans and donates his money to their organzation and they sign off on his hours?

We would give them to my dad's neighbor who recycles them for money (she's a widow). He's now trying to get his school to recycle aluminum. They added separate bins for recycling in the cafeteria, and now they are requesting bins in the classrooms. He suggested eliminating styrofoam, which has been adopted, and they're attempting to switch to real trays rather than disposable ones.

They started a "Green Team" at his school and I wasn't surprised his application was accepted since he walks the talk, but then I saw how much of a long shot it was since the sponsor, the head, and the other high-schooler selected all had the same last name! So technically he was the only Upper Schooler chosen (Price wouldn't have turned down his sister for the team!)

[Catfish]

We are not all blessed with younguns who have the will, or the drive, or the desire to focus outside of themselves. While some will just go through the motions, others will discover that they have more depth to them than they believed.

Sadly, I think that some parents are willing to let them glide through with the self-focused viewpoint, and so a requirement for some service puts the onus on the school and the kid.

For kids like my son, with a lack of self confidence, and a history of non-successes, this is perfect. The school matches the activity to the student, and as my son has a hard time with personal interactions, an animal encounter is golden. His confidence will rise, and then look out world LOL.

Well said.

[DevilKitty100]

And I agree with RB on the forced volunteerism thing. That's something I call an oxymoron....

There's nothing wrong with encouraging it, but volunteering is something you either want to do or not. There are some who were born to serve, and then there are those like me who cringe at the very thought of giving up even a minute of my spare time for something I don't want to do in the first place.... even if I mostly use it to vegetatate in front of this computer.....

lb13

So, essentially, you ascribe to the DK Tried and True Cannot Fail Method of Rearing Children.

[littlebeast13]

And I agree with RB on the forced volunteerism thing. That's something I call an oxymoron....

There's nothing wrong with encouraging it, but volunteering is something you either want to do or not. There are some who were born to serve, and then there are those like me who cringe at the very thought of giving up even a minute of my spare time for something I don't want to do in the first place.... even if I mostly use it to vegetatate in front of this computer.....

lb13

So, essentially, you ascribe to the DK Tried and True Cannot Fail Method of Rearing Children.

I am the last person who should ever give, support, or offer advice on any kind of child rearing methods..... other than recommending a home with a dark basement and a strong outside lock......

lb13

[Kazoo65]

Some of the school districts in my area require kids to do community service/volunteer work in order to graduate and some don't.

I think kids should volunteer, but they shouldn't be required to do so. It could be an elective, or as part of an organization like the Honor Society.

We have an excellent program here called Volunteens. It's for kids ages 12-18 and it usually runs during summer vacation, although there are some opportunities that are available through the school year -perfect if you need to rack up those volunteer hours! The kids fill out an application (just like for a real job). There is a brochure that is made available at schools and libraries for the kids to pick up that lists the various positions. I was involved with this program through my high school years and really enjoyed it.

Another benefit of volunteering as a teen is it gets you thinking about your career. If you want to be a doctor or nurse, you could volunteer at a hospital. If you like kids and want to be a teacher, volunteer at a day care center or after-school program. If the outdoors is your thing, volunteer at a nature center. If you like animals, volunteer at the animal shelter or a rescue center (like Maddie).

I think both kids and adults benefit from volunteering. I STILL do it!

[christie1111]

Another benefit of volunteering as a teen is it gets you thinking about your career. If you want to be a doctor or nurse, you could volunteer at a hospital. If you like kids and want to be a teacher, volunteer at a day care center or after-school program. If the outdoors is your thing, volunteer at a nature center. If you like animals, volunteer at the animal shelter or a rescue center (like Maddie).

This is why Daughter1111 has so many hours. Her time at the summer camp she volunteers for has helped shape her college major.

Special Ed teacher.

I couldn't do it but glad there are those who can.

[SportsFan68]

WTG, Big J!

In reply to Rafferty's request for alternate viewpoints, I submit that he never would have had this positive life-changing experience if it weren't for the mandatory program.

So don't call it "volunteering," which I agree, it isn't. Call it service learning. And find some way to give credit to Mini's kid for the stuff he's been doing anyway even though it's not an organization. I'm sure the only reason they required an organization is to put some structure to it. Otherwise you have kids texting all day and turning in the hours for Literacy Outreach or something equally ridiculous. I bet there's an organization out there, even the local municipal recycling program, that will put some structure to all those hours Mini's kid's been putting in.

The rest of this, if you believe that people who never had kids don't get an opinion about the raising of them, you should skip.

Spoiler

Kids need a center. For me, it was books. For SteelersFan, it was Pirates baseball and Steelers football. He could quote every stat for every player back then, and the last time I went to a Pirates game, it was a joy to sit in front of a 12-year-old kid who was the same way -- he answered every scoreboard trivia question and gave his dad the stats on every player correctly. He was centered. For my best friend in high school, it was horses. For my Science PAF, it was the sciences. Maybe Grace and her fascination with Jamie have helped him find a center that he didn't have before, and if that's true, it wouldn't have happened without the program.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

Another benefit of volunteering as a teen is it gets you thinking about your career. If you want to be a doctor or nurse, you could volunteer at a hospital. If you like kids and want to be a teacher, volunteer at a day care center or after-school program. If the outdoors is your thing, volunteer at a nature center. If you like animals, volunteer at the animal shelter or a rescue center (like Maddie).

This is why Daughter1111 has so many hours. Her time at the summer camp she volunteers for has helped shape her college major.

Special Ed teacher.

I couldn't do it but glad there are those who can.

Maddie will be volunteering at Jeff's hospital next summer, in addition to working at Hemopet. She going to try to get a volunteer position in Risk Management.

[JBillyGirl]

That's a wonderful opportunity, Saucy, and a great way to volunteer. I think working with animals and learning to care for them is a great way to build character and have fun at the same time. I hope Big J makes the most out of it.

[peacock2121]

I love that high schools do this now. Too bad they didn't do it back in the olden days when I was attending.

[peacock2121]

I think this is the best idea in years. Make high school kids do so many hours of community service for their diploma. We have it here too, in Ontario. I say anything that gets the kids involved is great. I'm glad that James has had a positive experience and I hope it just gets better.

I don't think forced community service is a good idea. I was a full-time volunteer for two years after college, so I definitely think volunteering is great, but what about Amendment 13 to the Constitution in the US? Isn't requiring students to volunteer involuntary servitude, and required volunteering an oxymoron?

We have required community service hours at the high school I work at, and from what I've seen, the kids mostly do the least they can do to get it over with. They volunteer at our after school program and just sit there texting instead of engaging with the kids. We also have high school students from other schools who come and are great with the kids, because they want to be there.

I'm willing to hear arguments for the opposing side.

They go to school and don't get paid for doing that. They sit in classrooms and learn stuff and don't get paid for that. They requirements that they have for graduatation are not of their chooisng and they don't get paid for that.

They are required to be exposed to all sorts of things in school. They have to take art and music and home ec and shop and they don't get paid for that.

Requiring that students be exposed to 'giving' is all part of learning.

[Bob Juch]

I think this is the best idea in years. Make high school kids do so many hours of community service for their diploma. We have it here too, in Ontario. I say anything that gets the kids involved is great. I'm glad that James has had a positive experience and I hope it just gets better.

I don't think forced community service is a good idea. I was a full-time volunteer for two years after college, so I definitely think volunteering is great, but what about Amendment 13 to the Constitution in the US? Isn't requiring students to volunteer involuntary servitude, and required volunteering an oxymoron?

We have required community service hours at the high school I work at, and from what I've seen, the kids mostly do the least they can do to get it over with. They volunteer at our after school program and just sit there texting instead of engaging with the kids. We also have high school students from other schools who come and are great with the kids, because they want to be there.

I'm willing to hear arguments for the opposing side.

They go to school and don't get paid for doing that. They sit in classrooms and learn stuff and don't get paid for that. They requirements that they have for graduatation are not of their chooisng and they don't get paid for that.

They are required to be exposed to all sorts of things in school. They have to take art and music and home ec and shop and they don't get paid for that.

Requiring that students be exposed to 'giving' is all part of learning.

Pea, don't you think that being forced to "give" will turn many off to the whole idea?

[peacock2121]

I don't think forced community service is a good idea. I was a full-time volunteer for two years after college, so I definitely think volunteering is great, but what about Amendment 13 to the Constitution in the US? Isn't requiring students to volunteer involuntary servitude, and required volunteering an oxymoron?

We have required community service hours at the high school I work at, and from what I've seen, the kids mostly do the least they can do to get it over with. They volunteer at our after school program and just sit there texting instead of engaging with the kids. We also have high school students from other schools who come and are great with the kids, because they want to be there.

I'm willing to hear arguments for the opposing side.

They go to school and don't get paid for doing that. They sit in classrooms and learn stuff and don't get paid for that. They requirements that they have for graduatation are not of their chooisng and they don't get paid for that.

They are required to be exposed to all sorts of things in school. They have to take art and music and home ec and shop and they don't get paid for that.

Requiring that students be exposed to 'giving' is all part of learning.

Pea, don't you think that being forced to "give" will turn many off to the whole idea?

No more than being forced to learn science or math or do gym will turn people off to that.

If school is meant to give our children the experiences and the education to choose what they want to do with their lives, volunteering is a vital part of that.

Being forced to do art turned me off to art - or - I was never gonna like it anyway. Who knows!

[gotribego26]

To me, volunteering should be done for the sake of doing it, not for any reward or to fulfill a school requirement.

I totally agree with you, but since the law was passed, my daughters have to follow the "rules" about volunteering so that they can graduate.

I have no problem with "volunteer requirements" - I think by the time high school rolls around they should see others in need of assistance throughout and help them. I hope that in many it fosters a sense of community that would otherwise be lacking.

I know many who "checked the boxes" of English, math and whatever other courses they had to take. Whether they embrace them or survive them, I think they should be part of learning about the world in which they live.

I also know people who received great grades, but I was always afraid they would get run over if they had to cross a busy street unaided. You can't learn about the world from textbooks and classrooms only.