MISSION VIEJO : District to Require Community Service

A divided Saddleback Valley Unified School District has approved a much-debated community service requirement for high school graduation, only the second public school district in Orange County to adopt such a policy.

Starting next school year, students must complete eight hours of community service during their four years of high school before graduating.

In September, the Laguna Beach Unified School District became the first in the county to adopt such a program, requiring students to perform 40 hours of public service over four years to graduate.

Saddleback Board of Education members Bobbee Cline, Marcia Birch and Dore Gilbert approved the plan on Tuesday, saying they hope that the requirement will motivate students to develop social responsibility and become more involved in their communities.

“It’s to inspire these children,” Gilbert said. “It’s not to force them into lengthy community service where they have to do 140 hours or 6,000 hours, or whatever. Eight hours is really just a taste for what it’s all about.”

The requirement, however, was criticized by some parents and board members Debbie Hughes and Frank Ury, who said they don’t think the school district should be mandating volunteerism.

“This is an area for parents to decide whether or not they want to direct their children in a certain direction,” Ury said. “If parents don’t take that responsibility, that’s their decision.”

Ury and Hughes have also complained about the possible expense, which district officials have estimated may be about $6,000 a year.

“We’re not talking about an expensive program here,” Board President Cline said. “This is like another homework assignment. It certainly is not an attempt to intrude into family lives in a way in which they do not desire.”

Under the policy, students who are unable to complete the requirement can instead turn in a community service research paper.

Among some of the most vocal supporters of the requirement were the district’s student board representatives, who said the requirement could hardly be seen as a burden.

“The amount of change you can make in somebody’s life through community service is incredible,” said David Huang, a student representative from Laguna Hills High School.

Student Board Member Peter Marietta said he hopes that students will use the opportunity to involve themselves in such projects as tutoring youngsters or helping the elderly, disabled and homeless.

“I’m sick of seeing kids around me who don’t know how or where to make a difference,” he said. “Sometimes they need a little pat on the behind to get them motivated.”