THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 8, 1996 TAG: 9608080014
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 30 lines
I was outraged by ``Civics lesson'' (Two Cents' Worth, editorial page, July 15), which ends by saying, ``It's a sad commentary when students learn more at home about taking their neighbors to court than lending them a helping hand.''
That is an absurd statement. As long as 50 hours of community service is required to graduate, no one is lending anyone a helping hand. The students are indeed fulfilling a mandatory involuntary-servitude requirement.
To criticize their parents for taking it to court is beyond belief. The only people teaching a civics lesson in this incident are the parents. They are teaching their children that in a democracy, a citizen has the right to stand up to a government that oversteps its bounds.
The school and the courts, on the other hand, are teaching these children that government has the last word, right or wrong. This case should go on to a federal court. I hope it does.
As far as high-school students doing community service: It's a great idea. It should be turned into some sort of extra-credit program. Or perhaps a noncredit program that simply gives a citizenship award. Such an award would look good on a college application. Of course that will also draw fire from people who say that by rewarding the work you diminish the lesson.
KEVIN FRANCIS LANIGAN
Virginia Beach, July 15, 1996 by CNB