government mandated slavery

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by DGTess

It's President-Elect.

I can't wait until someone's community service involves faith-based anti-choice counseling. Or Eddie Eagle classes. Or community organizing for a cause against one of his causes.

Just sayin'

Lightning bolt missed, eh?

[ASTalumna06]

I can't see community service as a mandatory requirement for graduation at high schools across the country being a good idea... at least not right now.

I went to a public high school. At the time, it was the only one in a city of close to 100,000 people. We were hovering at around 3,500 students, and that didn't even include the 9th grade (as there was no room for more students in the building).

I started my freshmen year (still in the junior high, but considered my first year of high school) with a class of approximately 1200 students. By the time I was nearing the end of my senior year, we had just under 900 students. On graduation day, there were about 600 students present.

There is already a ridiculously high number of students in this country that don't graduate. Why not focus on encouraging them to do better in school, instead of making it mandatory that everyone do extra work on top of classes and homework?

Personally, I would much rather have my taxes go toward things like new books, more counselors, and programs to assist those who need help in raising their grades.

To start, I think that community service should simply be MENTIONED to middle school and high school students. I know that I never volunteered until one of my teachers in high school talked about a program called Penny Pickers, a locally run community service project. Three of my friends and I signed up and participated. But I probably never would have done it otherwise.

The point is, to make this mandatory when the majority of the schools in this country don't even make it a point to offer any community service ideas or opportunities to students, seems like a pretty big jump.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

I can't see community service as a mandatory requirement for graduation at high schools across the country being a good idea... at least not right now.

I went to a public high school. At the time, it was the only one in a city of close to 100,000 people. We were hovering at around 3,500 students, and that didn't even include the 9th grade (as there was no room for more students in the building).

I started my freshmen year (still in the junior high, but considered my first year of high school) with a class of approximately 1200 students. By the time I was nearing the end of my senior year, we had just under 900 students. On graduation day, there were about 600 students present.

There is already a ridiculously high number of students in this country that don't graduate. Why not focus on encouraging them to do better in school, instead of making it mandatory that everyone do extra work on top of classes and homework?

Personally, I would much rather have my taxes go toward things like new books, more counselors, and programs to assist those who need help in raising their grades.

To start, I think that community service should simply be MENTIONED to middle school and high school students. I know that I never volunteered until one of my teachers in high school talked about a program called Penny Pickers, a locally run community service project. Three of my friends and I signed up and participated. But I probably never would have done it otherwise.

The point is, to make this mandatory when the majority of the schools in this country don't even make it a point to offer any community service ideas or opportunities to students, seems like a pretty big jump.

Did you hear about programs that are paying students to get better grades....?

http://www.cbs46.com/news/15116950/d...=lnta&psp=news

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Did you hear about programs that are paying students to get better grades....?

www.cbs46.com/news/15116950/detail.html?rss=lnta&psp=news

Um.. yea.. I don't know about all that.

But take my brother, for instance. Growing up, he hated school. HATED it. He would lie any which way he could so that he wouldn't have to go. When he was there, he wouldn't pay attention. Homework was rarely done, and to see him study would be a very rare occurrence (if it happened at all).

But he's not a dumb kid by any means.

In his junior year of high school, he looked into joining the military. He requested information and took the basic entrance exam. He told my parents that's what he wanted to do, and he dropped out of school. He also never joined the military. He worked as a front-end manager at a grocery store, and then he worked at Wendy's. After two years, he kind of realized that there wasn't much else he could do beyond that with the limited education that he had. Basically, it was a huge wake up call for him.

He eventually got his GED, and he enrolled in community college. He's been there for two years now, and he's been on the Dean's List every semester. He studies all the time, and asks his girlfriend for help when he needs it. This January, he's starting at UMass.

There are a ridiculous amount of students that fall through the cracks because nobody takes the time to talk with them and make them realize how important school truly is. Paying them doesn't help the cause, but making them understand their potential does. Also, with the way some schools in this country are falling apart, I'd rather put money into those communities so that the basic education that is happening everywhere else, can be provided to everyone.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by DGTess

It's President-Elect.

I can't wait until someone's community service involves faith-based anti-choice counseling. Or Eddie Eagle classes. Or community organizing for a cause against one of his causes.

Just sayin'

Not sure what anti-choice counseling is. But, volunteering with pro-adoption pre-natal care organizations would probably be acceptable. Obama isn't pro-abortion, he's pro-choice.

[darling1]

i agree with your comments! i do not see a problem with this. in maryland/dc/va it is a requirement of highschool students.

i don't see why anyone would have a problem with paying it forward and giving back to people that are in need. serving in the military is not the only way you can demonstrate patriotism.

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

I am really trying hard to understand how come any kind of community service for young people is not a good idea.

I imagine how non-profits suffer due to poor numbers of volunteers on their projects.

[darling1]

middle/high school get the benefit of helping someone. the get the benefit of doing something that will positively impact their lives. they will get the benefit of looking outside of their situation to have a more open position on life. they also have the benefit of putting this service on their resumes, applications for colleges and share their experiences with kids behind them.

if young people can sit on the phone, focus on trivial things then they can serve.

college student will probably receive some financial benefit from serving. whether its a stipend or a discount on tuition. i would think that existing programs like americorps may receive additional funding to help as many people as possible.

i think your questions are legitimate. but my position is that you have the right to exert your viewpoint on these issues and you can wait and see what the obama administration has to offer. whether you agree with him or not, the one thing that can't be disputed is that he is intelligent and has a strong command of the issues like this one. also, as much as it was laughed at, he was a community organizer and comes with a specific knowledge about how to effectively operate programs that seek to serve the community.

Originally Posted by StargazerLily

I'm looking at the middle/high school kids. What do they get for doing their 50 hours of service? The website is vague on how the program would work. I interpreted it to mean that college students who did 100 hours would get the college money credit. Also, I'm unsure if it wants college students to do 100 per year to get the money, or if they have to graduate before they get the credit, etc etc. There's alot of questions unanswered. At a swift glance though - it sounds to me that only college students really benefit for it. I cant imagine many middle/high schoolers enjoying doing community service "just because." I had to grow up a little bit more before I truly enjoyed giving back to the community.

What about the 2 year draft? Tthere would be those who would find medical reasons on why they should be spared, and other baloney excuses to get out of serving in the military. Plus, the military already has a bunch of "voluntary" dirtbags as it is, why put the soldiers (who want to be there) lives in danger by having them HAVE to depend on some dirtbag kid who is forced to be there? I know the draft was normal way back when, but times have changed. People don't look at military service as a sense of duty and something youre "supposed" to do anymore....

I wasnt trying to start an argument or anything - just found the info to be interesting....and I seriously wonder how it's going to work and be effective. There's going to have to be an incentive for it.....

[darling1]

at some point all of us have had to put their life in the hands of someone they dont trust. what does that have to do with where we could be heading going forward?

the best you can do is to be as prepared as you can, do your part, stay aware and the rest you leave to your faith (if that is what you believe) or to chance.

Originally Posted by StargazerLily

Have you ever had to put your life in the hands of someone you didnt trust? Why dont you ask a servicemember who has, and see how they feel about it.

[PhiGam]

I thought that it was only $4000 for poor kids? I do well over 100 hours/year anyway, this would make me very happy.

[rho4life]

didn't y'all know, effective Jan 21, 2009, all white people will have to do 40 years of slavery. Enjoy the cotton fields.....

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

I thought that it was only $4000 for poor kids? I do well over 100 hours/year anyway, this would make me very happy.

Well, who knows how it will turn out? Personally, I have a hard time imagining that what this country needs is a program to give 4,000 dollar tax credit to the parents of upper class college kids who are willing to turn in forms logging their Dance Marathon hours.

Honestly, I don't really see this going anywhere until the economy improves a lot, unless it's simply a requirement for documented community service added to existing tax credits for higher ed.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by rho4life

didn't y'all know, effective Jan 21, 2009, all white people will have to do 40 years of slavery. Enjoy the cotton fields.....

Will you hush!?!?!!

They haven't finalized the press release yet!

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by rho4life

didn't y'all know, effective Jan 21, 2009, all white people will have to do 40 years of slavery. Enjoy the cotton fields.....

Can we just have our ancestors do it?

Maybe something about potato famines or coal mines and company stores?

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by rho4life

didn't y'all know, effective Jan 21, 2009, all white people will have to do 40 years of slavery. Enjoy the cotton fields.....

Enjoy those greens... LOL...

[Scandia]

I still can only think about the logistical nightmare it would be. Especially if there are few community organizations where you live and they slam the door on your face unless you have nepotism-like connections.