As part of the community service requirement, students will also gain valuable experience in service that cannot be provided by most part time jobs that are accessible to teenagers. The requirement will give students ideas about possible professions as well, from becoming a social worker, to a hospital employee, a teacher -- even a forest ranger!

From the community's point-of-view, the local community will benefit from the added aid to charitable organizations. Also, volunteer work is an important requirement for many college applications. True, some students already engage in such service as part of the high school Key Club or local service organizations -- but for those who do not, fifty hours over the course of four years of publicly funded education is hardly an unreasonable expectation.

The community gives a great deal to its students -- students are our hopes, dreams, and futures. But to realize their own, fullest...
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