COMMUNITY SERVICE AT AN EARLY AGE

As much as modern society is advancing in the field of technology, it is increasingly ignoring the importance of human relations. Due to this trend, there have been demands for unpaid social service that will be mandatory for high school students. It is believed that this will teach the students the value of human interaction. While some people are for the idea that community service should be obligatory with secondary school systems, there are also others who think that it will bring serious difficulties for both teachers and students.

For those who are against the idea, first and foremost reason why it should not be mandatory is that most of the students are not mature enough to implement such activities. Since they are not capable of handling service programmes effectively, they may feel difficulties and dissatisfied while performing these services. Thus, they may develop a negative attitude towards community services from this tender age. Consequently, they may lose interest in doing those kinds of services later on. Another reason is that students have a lot of subjects to study within such a limited period of time that such a step would make both students and teachers work harder. In other words, if they perform such community services, they would definitely face challenges in their academic areas resulting in a possible failure in examinations.

On the other hand, the fact that school education plays such a crucial role in shaping us as individuals means that the education needs to fully shape students into socially responsible citizens and develop strong characters. It cannot stop at academic success. Through community service, young and inexperienced students can learn the importance of living together and giving back to society. With regard to personal development, it will give the child a feeling of empathy which is needed to build a better character. When you are made to see people who have a worse situation than you do, it helps you appreciate what you have. Thus, such services teach us to value what we have had, appreciate it and want to help others because of it. When people appreciate their situation and help others, it causes them to be happier in life.

While both arguments have value, the development of a socially responsible, appreciative and helpful future generation is the clear winner. Making students do community service or social work in their high school programmes is important for their development, and will build more empathetic and charitable adults.