Rethinking Community Service

The common practice of judges assigning or sentencing people convicted of crimes to community service should be rethought. At first it sounds like a good idea, the person who has committed some error pays back the community by picking up trash or performing some other community service. The county receives “free” labor, and the offender feels he has repaid his debt to society. It seems to be a win-win situation. Judges can make offenders accountable without filling up the jails.
No one has taken into account the effect forced community service has on young people. Over time, community service has become, not something you do because you have pride in your community, but a punishment for criminals. Many young people have a negative connotation of community service. They think community service is for “bad” people. The idea of volunteering time to make your community a better place has been obscured by the image of prisoners in orange vests picking up trash on the highway.
No matter what the cause, membership in youth groups like Boy Scouts, or Camp Five Girls has declined. A few youth groups are still strong, but fewer young people continue their memberships into their high school years. Many high school students have to work, are involved in athletics, or have other responsibilities. Their time is limited; in a world where parents are working, and single parents common, young people shoulder more responsibility than ever before. In addition, they’re influenced less by adults, and more by electronic media. According to the Dept. of Education, teenagers spend, on average, less than 24 minutes a day in direct contact with a parent or guardian.
A few years ago, a progressive school district in California decided to require 100 hours of community service over the four years of high school as a requirement for graduation. There was a community outcry that eventually succeeded in the requirement being dropped. Why would students or their parents object to helping their community? They were given a multitude of choices as to how they could complete the requirement. It was not centered on picking up trash. The students had many options. They could deliver meals to seniors. They could tutor younger students, or help coach youth athletics. They could volunteer at nursing homes, hospitals, or child care centers. They could volunteer at local parks or museums. There were few limitations on how they could fulfill this obligation.
Over a four year period, 100 hours amounts to approximately ½ hour per week. High school students spend that much time a week waiting in line at Taco Bell. Many high school students spend more time text messaging or playing video games. What makes the idea of helping their community so repugnant? Are we so busy making a living that we fail to give our children the ideals that foster community spirit?
The only answer to this question is the association teens make between community service and criminal activity. Teenagers have not changed much in the last 40 years. They do not respond to force; the carrot works better than the stick. Almost every teenager knows someone who has been sentenced to community service. They associate the idea of service with punishment. This needs to be changed. Most teenagers have an innate sense of what is right. They will respond to positive examples. Allow them to choose community pride and service.

Sent to Current Argus 7 – 17 – 05 / Published in Current Argus 7 - 24 - 05