Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 26, 1990 TAG: 9003262130
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A3 EDITION: BEDFORD/FRANKLIN
SOURCE: JEAN McNAIR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
School officials say the new graduation requirement teaches teen-agers about the real world. But students say they shouldn't be told what to do outside of school hours.
"Those students who are involved in one way or the other are more likely to stay in school. We wanted to emphasize this point to our students," said Jerry E. Webb, superintendent of the Shenandoah County school system, which has added the requirement starting with the class of 1991.
"It's good to learn to deal with people and learn more about the world. You shouldn't have to do it for school," said Stephanie Mullins, 17, a junior at the county's Stonewall Jackson High School. "I think the school dictates too much of your life by requiring that."
"I don't think it's a good idea," agreed her classmate, Jen Bickerstass, 16. "I think the idea of having people go out and do something for themselves is good. Making it required sort of takes away the freedom of it."
Students at Shenandoah County's three high schools have to complete 150 hours of community service and write an essay about their experiences. The service can include anything from volunteering with a local rescue squad to working at a part-time job to playing for the school football team.
"The range of activities that can count is so broad that it really doesn't place a burden on any student," said Duncan Currie, guidance counselor at Strasburg High School.
Middlesex County has taken a different approach at its high school. Starting with the class of 1993, the school system plans to require that students complete 25 hours of community service that could include tutoring classmates, working in a nursing home or refurbishing homes for the elderly.
James W. Goforth, Middlesex County school superintendent, views the program as a public relations tool.
"We're a community with a number of retirees," he said. "They don't see a great deal of direct benefit from the schools."
Goforth said he had to sell the school board on the idea and admitted the service may be difficult for some students to complete.
"We're a small rural community," he said. "There's not as many opportunities for them. Transportation is a problem."
Goforth said the program is in effect voluntarily and the board could reverse its decision to make it a graduation requirement if problems develop.
The Virginia Department of Education has taken no official position on community service requirements, although Webb said he had to get state approval to get his started.
"It's something that we think has some benefit. We're interested in people looking at it and probably doing more with it in the future," said Callie Shingleton, assistant state superintendent for general, vocational and adult education.
Webb and Goforth said they have not talked to any other Virginia localities interested in adding the requirement. School divisions in several other states have adopted similar programs.
Jackie Smoot, a guidance counselor at Stonewall Jackson, said school officials had to overcome some initial skepticism from parents worried that they would have to nag their children to complete the requirement.
"In the very beginning there was a lot of misunderstanding as to what could count and what couldn't count and how ridiculous it was," she said. "More information was put out on it, then the attitude changed."
Webb, Currie and Smoot said they have received no complaints from parents or students since the program began, but several juniors said their classmates are grumbling about it.
The county's high schools will offer a course on job skills next school year for seniors who have been unable to fulfill the requirement outside school.
by CNB