Do you think the graduation requirement for Gilroy’s high school students to log 80 hours of community service is a good one?

• NO. This is a big bunch of BS. Students are not getting enough of their academics as it is with shorter class days and shorter class years. This is the government’s way of indoctrinating students in public schools into “serving the citizens”. If they want them to do 80 more hours put them back into the classroom. • Yes. Instilling community service at a young age rewards not only the young person but our community. They will hopefully see this as just a beginning in terms of what they can give back through service. The bigger lesson will be in what they receive! • Absolutely Yes. It forces involvement which can lead to a child finding a passion they didn’t even know they have as well as exposing them to all different needs within our community. • Honestly as a parent of a freshman, I really hated the rule. Now that a year has gone by and my son will be a sophomore my thought has changed. It is a really great idea that has helped me encourage my son to be more involved! Also, as a parent it has helped me to see all the diverse opportunities available for all ages to help keep Gilroy residents and families! • No. I think it is a good premise to raise awareness for teens, but the actual accounting for the hours, the paperwork, and the enforcement of students not walking if they don’t fulfill this requirement and the outcry from some parents if their student is affected is the reality. Perhaps this spirit of volunteering should be given back to the parents to model and do with their children. • Yes. Community service is character building and is not difficult especially with local organizations like Gilroy Gardens stepping up to provide plenty of opportunities to serve. • Yes. It provides experiences and learning opportunities they would never understand from a book. They will see a different perspective on life if they serve at St. Joseph’s or the Compassion Center or with a local service club project. It’s good for them. • Yes. I’m actually pretty cynical about this in that much of what passes for community service is questionably so. One hour here and a half-hour there doesn’t do it. Weekly volunteer at Lord’s Table or St.Joseph’s Family Center or Salvation Army or Operation Interdependence or clean up the creek or pick up trash along the streets or railroad tracks or helping at the hospital or convalescent home or senior center or logistical help (set-up/clean-up) with service organizations’ large events. These things give exposure to real-life, character building experiences, sensitivity to the less
fortunate, develop pride in one’s community and the spirit of volunteerism
for “personal satisfaction/accomplishment” of a job well done. • Absolutely yes. Community service should be part of everyone’s life.
Helping in your community in any way can give a person a feeling of being
involved and needed. This work should start young – even before high
school. But, for high school students to be able to list community service
accomplishments on college and scholarship applications will further enhance the experience. • I am very glad to see a requirement that has been a staple in private schools for years catching on in public schools. Volunteering is a habit we should all be in. It promotes the common good and a high school requirement cements the concept of common good in the minds and hearts of the students. Most volunteers receive far more than they give and so, the students learn the non-monetary benefit of generosity of spirit. In addition, it gives the students experiences that they might not otherwise have, like tutoring, serving the poor, or helping with voter registration. Win-win in my book. • Yes! I think it’s a great requirement. It teaches these kids to get out and do something for someone else!