The community service requirement of 20 hours is not just reasonable; it is necessary for all high schoolers. It prepares us to become productive and responsible members of society. While some people argue that a 20-hour minimum community service requirement takes time away from academics and other personal commitments, community service teaches us the real-world experience of in-person connection that no classroom or book ever could.
Community service can be most simply defined by defining each word alone. The “community” is the people around you who will be positively affected by your good work. Your “service” is the time and effort that you put into your work to help improve your community. Essentially, community service is the act of using your time to help the people within your community to make it a better place.
Community service also allows students to step out of their comfort zones, whether by working in a soup kitchen, tutoring younger students, assisting at a shelter, or more. Students learn firsthand what it means to be a productive member of society and develop empathy by helping those in need, which is something that cannot happen during regular school hours.
Students also learn the skills that they will definitely need to know in the future, skills such as communication, teamwork, time management, and leadership. When these students are later employed, they are expected to have these core skills and values to be productive employees.
The 20-hour minimum requirement is both very achievable and reasonable if spread out evenly throughout four years of high school – it’s only five hours a year, which is shorter than a regular school day. The 20-hour requirement is intentionally designed to not be a burden on the students.
Along with all the personal improvements that students will experience with community service, students will also improve academically.
According to a research paper, “Long-Term Consequences of Youth Volunteering: Voluntary Versus Involuntary Service,” published in the National Library of Medicine, “Both voluntary and involuntary youth service are positively associated with educational attainment and earnings in young adulthood.”
Some may argue that community service costs money and requires transportation to achieve their minimum requirement. However, there are a plethora of opportunities on campus held by clubs, teachers, and the school. The College and Career Center frequently sends out emails detailing opportunities for students to gain community service hours.
Community service is more than just a school requirement; it is a necessity for all high schoolers who should experience it teaches you the values and skills you need to be a productive member of society, so there is no reason why it should be removed.
