PLATFORM : Could Be a Turnoff

The best way to encourage community service is to offer it as an ROP (Regional Occupational Program) course. If you want to do it, fine; but people shouldn’t have to do it. I’m positive I would, but a lot of students would have problems scheduling around sports, jobs and other activities. Community service is a totally good idea, but some may not be as into it as others.

Being a volunteer should be seen as a fun job, rather than as a task. Speaking from a teen-ager’s point of view, if kids are told to do something, they’re not going to want to do it. It’s just like if your parents say to turn the channel when you’re watching a video on TV, you’re going to keep watching it until they come back in the room. I don’t know why--I guess we just like to push our parents’ nerves.

Maybe mandatory community service would make people less selfish, but a lot of kids would challenge it.