Should high schools require community service?

[bluebayou]

<p>always:</p>

<p>I apologize if my post came off as hostile. </p>

<p>The original post asked if schools should require CS; I wholly support CC when its voluntary, just not conscripted. </p>

<p>Reading the articles posted by nsm and ek, it is clear that CS has many tangible benefits. But, those benefits were based on voluntary programs - it is impossible to project them onto a conscripted programs. I’d like to see research on the largest conscripted CS program out in the US, i.e., CS required by the courts, and the benefits it provides to participants.</p>

<p>Searching for one of the authors that northstarmom posted, I ran across this 2002 summary:</p>

<p>

Currently, much of the information available…is correlational or retrospective – not experimental or longitudinal…

</p>

<p>Also, if I understand correctly, Service Learning is just not external to the classroom, but is included in the class curriculum. Thus, I think it is different than the type of required volunteerism being discussed on this thread, but perhaps I’m mistaken.</p>

<p>and, 2001 abstract:</p>

<p>

Service learning—a combination of community-based civic experience and systematic classroom reflection on that experience—is a promising innovation, but program evaluations have yielded mixed results.

</p>

<p>I also concur with wharf:

I think we could accomplish the same goals by providing students with opportunities to be of service to the community and by modeling that for them.

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