Clarence Central reviews Community service requirements

[gorja]

From the Clarence Bee-
CCSD reviews community service requirements

Students’ community service requirements are being updated in the Clarence Central School District.


The district had a committee revisit the requirements following the introduction of the Seal of Civic Readiness, which was earned by 30 graduating CCSD seniors this year, its first pilot year. Before the pandemic, students had to do 32 hours of community service during high school, at least 16 of which had to be during senior year. The committee’s new recommendation includes service learning projects that integrate with a senior level class, offering a 25-hour project to students interested in the seal and a 10-hour project to students not pursuing the seal. The committee also suggested creating a community service club in the high school with a paid adviser who could help students serve “the community at large.” A Seal of Civic Readiness director would replace a community service position, and an assistant director would also be hired.


Additionally, the term “community service” began changing to “service learning” before the pandemic, since the first denotes simply doing something to benefit the community, while the second brings learning into the equation. In Monday’s school board meeting, a presenter (Mr. Smith) described how community service may involve picking up trash from a stream bed, but service learning would have students reflect after completing that service by analyzing what they found, sharing results and coming up with potential solutions.


For the seal in particular, students must acquire six “points” in the categories of Civic Knowledge and Civic Participation, with at least two points in each of the two categories. Civic Knowledge can be obtained almost by default via social studies courses, Regents exams and projects; depending on the courses a student selects, points can be earned as early as ninth grade. Civic Participation requires a “reflective piece” presented for the school and focuses more on action – for example, civic and service learning projects, a particular elective course, extracurricular programs, work-based learning, and middle and high school capstone projects.


There was also mention of a potential community service day that everyone could participate in – an update of a day that traditionally involved only seniors at risk of falling short on their required community service hours for graduation.
Students interested in pursuing the seal will need to fill out a form that the district calls a declaration. This form will be distributed to 11th and 12th grade students close to the start of the upcoming school year.

It sounds like a very good plan

[grump]

It’s horsesh*t. How about we teach them to read and write instead. School should be about learning, not selling Girl Scout cookies.

[buffalopundit]

It’s horsesh*t. How about we teach them to read and write instead. School should be about learning, not selling Girl Scout cookies.

This is for high school students in Clarence who have already learned how to "read and write". School is also about teaching kids to be responsible adults, and doing a bit of service to the community is a win-win.

Selling Girl Scout cookies is not classified as community service for graduation purposes, by the way.

[gorja]

This is for high school students in Clarence who have already learned how to "read and write". School is also about teaching kids to be responsible adults, and doing a bit of service to the community is a win-win.

Selling Girl Scout cookies is not classified as community service for graduation purposes, by the way.

I see they recently updated their community service requirement -
From the July 13 Clarence Bee
Students’ community service requirements are being updated in the Clarence Central School District.



The district had a committee revisit the requirements following the introduction of the Seal of Civic Readiness, which was earned by 30 graduating CCSD seniors this year, its first pilot year. Before the pandemic, students had to do 32 hours of community service during high school, at least 16 of which had to be during senior year. The committee’s new recommendation includes service learning projects that integrate with a senior level class, offering a 25-hour project to students interested in the seal and a 10-hour project to students not pursuing the seal. The committee also suggested creating a community service club in the high school with a paid adviser who could help students serve “the community at large.” A Seal of Civic Readiness director would replace a community service position, and an assistant director would also be hired.


Additionally, the term “community service” began changing to “service learning” before the pandemic, since the first denotes simply doing something to benefit the community, while the second brings learning into the equation. In Monday’s school board meeting, a presenter (Mr. Smith) described how community service may involve picking up trash from a stream bed, but service learning would have students reflect after completing that service by analyzing what they found, sharing results and coming up with potential solutions.


For the seal in particular, students must acquire six “points” in the categories of Civic Knowledge and Civic Participation, with at least two points in each of the two categories. Civic Knowledge can be obtained almost by default via social studies courses, Regents exams and projects; depending on the courses a student selects, points can be earned as early as ninth grade. Civic Participation requires a “reflective piece” presented for the school and focuses more on action – for example, civic and service learning projects, a particular elective course, extracurricular programs, work-based learning, and middle and high school capstone projects.

[Member 2358]

This is for high school students in Clarence who have already learned how to "read and write". School is also about teaching kids to be responsible adults, and doing a bit of service to the community is a win-win.

Selling Girl Scout cookies is not classified as community service for graduation purposes, by the way.

How does "community service" as defined/executed by a school district equate to being (learning about) being a "responsible adult"? By simply being "required"(?). If so, doesn't anything 'required' do so? And, if the "responsible adult" piece is only achieved through so-called 'community service' is the implication that anyone who does not do so can not be considered a responsible adult?

The requirement, IMO, is nonsense. Likely more of a public relations ploy of a/the school district. Community service as an optional opportunity coordinated by a school district? Sure. Go for it.

[WNYresident]

School is also about teaching kids to be responsible adults

I would say we have some schools that should add a course on "Not littering". I'm surprised at the amount of trash that ends up in our parking lot and at the bus stop a few buildings down. Then as "responsible" goes we need to "fine" the NFTA for littering. Or at least teach the people who run the NFTA how to be responsible business owners. They need to pick up the mess their clients make at their bus stops.

[buffalopundit]

How does "community service" as defined/executed by a school district equate to being (learning about) being a "responsible adult"? By simply being "required"(?). If so, doesn't anything 'required' do so? And, if the "responsible adult" piece is only achieved through so-called 'community service' is the implication that anyone who does not do so can not be considered a responsible adult?

The requirement, IMO, is nonsense. Likely more of a public relations ploy of a/the school district. Community service as an optional opportunity coordinated by a school district? Sure. Go for it.

I know this is like kryptonite to the right-wingers who occupy this benighted space, but the purpose of the program is to teach kids to the value in pursuing something above their own self-interest, whether it be donating time, labor, money, or otherwise serving the community in which they live. It is not an "optional opportunity" but part of the social studies curriculum in the high school. FFS, look it up.

[buffalopundit]

I would say we have some schools that should add a course on "Not littering". I'm surprised at the amount of trash that ends up in our parking lot and at the bus stop a few buildings down. Then as "responsible" goes we need to "fine" the NFTA for littering. Or at least teach the people who run the NFTA how to be responsible business owners. They need to pick up the mess their clients make at their bus stops.

Thank you for the non-sequitur.

[grump]

This is for high school students in Clarence who have already learned how to "read and write". School is also about teaching kids to be responsible adults, and doing a bit of service to the community is a win-win.

Selling Girl Scout cookies is not classified as community service for graduation purposes, by the way.

Gee Pundit, high school kids in Clarence have already learned to read and write. I guess that gives them a leg up on the poor kids who are sentenced to the Buffalo public schools.

[grump]

I know this is like kryptonite to the right-wingers who occupy this benighted space, but the purpose of the program is to teach kids to the value in pursuing something above their own self-interest, whether it be donating time, labor, money, or otherwise serving the community in which they live. It is not an "optional opportunity" but part of the social studies curriculum in the high school. FFS, look it up.

Being called a benighted right winger by a tool like you is a compliment. That said, as you said, they can pursue something above their self interest by contributing money. It’s nice to know that one can satisfy this critical academic component by “donating…money”. Care to share the price tag you nimrod?

[grump]

Wait Pundit, does your grade get higher the more you “donate”? That would be in keeping with the “ethos” of NYSUT. The notion that forcing kids to “do good” as a class requirement will make them responsible adults is foolish on its face. Generations of Americans became responsible of adults without being forced to “do good” in social studies class. The ones who didn’t become responsible adults became Democratic Totalitarians.

[WNYresident]

Grump,

So you don't think there isn't any value teaching kids to help others to a point? Volunteer type stuff?

One thing I think is wrong is when people teach kids it's ok to force others to pay for items they think are "good" yet those very same people never cut a check. IE: If someone believes we should spend millions of dollars on people who illegally entered the USA they should set an example. They should open their check book and adopt a family. They can pay for food, lodging and all medical needs. If they don't they really have no justification to force others to do so.

[grump]

Grump,

So you don't think there isn't any value teaching kids to help others to a point? Volunteer type stuff?

One thing I think is wrong is when people teach kids it's ok to force others to pay for items they think are "good" yet those very same people never cut a check. IE: If someone believes we should spend millions of dollars on people who illegally entered the USA they should set an example. They should open their check book and adopt a family. They can pay for food, lodging and all medical needs. If they don't they really have no justification to force others to do so.

WNY, in answer to your question, no I don’t think there’s any value in it…not when the “teaching” is done by members of NYSUT. That’s not teaching, that’s indoctrination. That’s why, as Pundit pointed out, you can buy your way out with money. If you’re forced to do it to pass social studies, it’s not “volunteer type stuff”. It’s compulsion, pure and simple. Want to turn kids off the volunteerism overnight? Make it compulsory. The more it’s forced on kids the less they participate voluntarily. It already shows in the numbers

[Member 2358]

I know this is like kryptonite to the right-wingers who occupy this benighted space, but the purpose of the program is to teach kids to the value in pursuing something above their own self-interest, whether it be donating time, labor, money, or otherwise serving the community in which they live. It is not an "optional opportunity" but part of the social studies curriculum in the high school. FFS, look it up.

You realize that if it's required, it's not really volunteer. In fact, there is noting 'volunteer' about it. No more so than a high school math course or the choice of a required elective is a volunteer activity for a high school student. Further, isn't their already a 'beyond the individual component' to school(?). Afterall, when I pay school taxes (and do not use public schools) I'm told that it is because an educated community is better for everyone. Thant doesn't hold true for students living in that community, apparently(?).

[WNYresident]

Buffalopundit

I know this is like kryptonite to the right-wingers who occupy this benighted space

1. in a state of pitiful or contemptible intellectual or moral ignorance, typically owing to a lack of opportunity.


Why can't some people just debate a topic versus taking personal shots at others?