It looks like Obama wants compulsory community service of 50 hours for middle school students and 100 hours for high school students as well. I love this idea, and I hope it goes somewhere. He also plans to expand Peace Corps and Americorps programs as well, which is good news for Ben and Amanda.
Vague details on change.gov.
So, mandatory volunteerism?
Do you think it will cheapen it for the ones who really want to help out?
And, who gets to pay for the adult that has to manage the 30 less-than-stellar achievers out picking up trash when they’d rather be out drinking?
As someone who has spent quite a lot of time volunteering and considers it an integral part of her life, I am insulted by your remarks. The people who “really want to help out” are not in it to get their name in the newspaper or go to a volunteer appreciation banquet. They do it because they know it needs to be done, and they want to make life better for so many people on so many levels. Just because there are a few people out there meeting their obligations along side those who genuinely volunteer does not render anyone efforts ineffective, which would truly “cheapen” the experience. When I worked with Habitat for Humanity, the most hardcore volunteers, those we had retained for a long time, were those who started volunteering because it was a requirement of a school organization or for their job. I think that mandatory volunteerism will inspire more people to be involved in civil service of their own accord throughout their lives. Also, there are so many organizations out there begging for volunteers who are already structured to “manage the 30 less-than-stellar achievers.” The government is not paying for it, and obviously YOU are not paying for it, which is what you’re really worried about. You’re questions are the result of being ill-informed and having little experience in the matter. Maybe you should find a place to volunteer and see what it’s really about.
First: Congrats on chewing me out.
I have experienced projects where an organization required people to attend and I’m not entirely sure the project ended as a net positive. Throw in a bunch of high schoolers pissed off that their weekend was ruined and I see it going downhill.
If all you want is a body to move a pile of dirt then I think forced participation can accomplish a lot(see: chain gangs). But if you want to change something then it helps to have people that have their heart in it from the beginning. Those hardcore volunteers you worked with where meeting requirements for organizations or jobs for which they CHOSE to compete.
Either way, Obama has now REMOVED the “requirement” part of the plan from his illegally obtained change.gov website. Now he’s offering $4000 credits to college students who participate. Hey, free money.
“The government is not paying for it, and obviously YOU are not paying for it, which is what you’re really worried about.”
Yes, I do care who has to pay for it. Is that wrong, or irresponsible? Private citizens are in the best position to decide what to do with their money. I also think we’re in the best position to decide how we volunteer. If the government decides that my money needs to go to help out “project A” then maybe “good cause B” doesn’t get as much money as it really needs because our money has been preempted by the government.
You and Ben, of all people, should understand how “more money to the government” means “less donations for mission trips to India.”
Yes, it is that simple.
Having run a non-profit staffed by volunteers and worked full time for another one, the thought of a bunch of people showing up to “help” who don’t want to be there problematic.
On the other hand, we require school kids to have so many hours of math, science, language, social studies, etc… why not require so many hours of community service? Kids gripe about having to study math, but they know it’s expected and there isn’t really any choice about it. I think they’d get used to the idea of having to do community service too. I just don’t want them showing up at MY community service with bad attitudes.
I was wondering how Obama managed to get a .gov address. I think it’s probably a good idea, though, for each incoming administration to have a government address where they can address people’s expectations in the transition period before they take office.
Lots of countries have a year or two of required government service right after school, usually in the form of military service. I like the fact that the US has an all volunteer military, even in the middle of not one but two wars, one of them very unpopular. But in other countries, no one really seems to mind; it’s just what you do. I don’t really like the idea of the government taking away a year of my life.
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