enough is Enough!
Skeeter Angstrom
Lately, educators, legislators, parents, and even business owners have been looking into adding to the requirements for graduation from high school. Notice that I did not say "teachers" in that particular list. Teachers are notably absent from this argument for more requirements--in particular, a service hour requirement--because teachers know better than anyone (except possibly high school students) that there already are too many requirements placed upon students to finally earn that high school diploma. The first problem with requiring community service hours is that students barely have enough time as it is under current requirements to complete their studies, play sports, do extra-curriculars, and have a social life.
No one is denying that community service and volunteerism are valuable, worthwhile activities that everyone should do--but compulsory volunteerism is an oxymoron. The beauty of service is immediately lost when it is required. No doubt some good would be done by requiring service hours, but at what price? A lot of shoddy, half-hearted service will be done for every one job well done.
Given that students are already stressed out to meet requirements for graduation and the hypocrisy of "requiring" volunteers, adding community service as a student requirement for graduation is completely wrong-headed.
How do these two articles differ in their perspectives on adding the requirement of community service to current graduation requirements?
A) Neither Angstrom nor Thrash believes the value of community service can be proved.
B) While Thrash sees only positive benefits to the new requirement for graduation, Angstrom can only come up with one or two benefits.
C) Angstrom finds two major flaws with the argument for a service hour requirement, while Thrash can see no downsides to the addition of the new standard.
D) Both Angstrom and Thrash are able to see both sides of the argument and thus are unable to reach a consensus on whether or not to add the new requirement.
