<p>NOw I admit I think the program that my daughters inner city school has to third world countries to help them set up computers and learn to run them is great <a href="http://www.emeraldcityrotary.org/c4w/%5B/url%5D">http://www.emeraldcityrotary.org/c4w/</a>
but for example all these people that rush to indonesia or india after a major disaster with no training and without being afliated with a group?
Those "helpful" citizens are going to have to be fed- housed etc- and I understand their intent, but I have found that the most I can do- is to give money and support to those groups who know what they are doing- it is just more efficent :)
I also am a fan of giving to your community
I think we can be pretty removed from others that don't share our "lifestyle"
Older D went to a prep school that was fairly pricey- while she was on finaid, some thought being deprived was not having cable.</p>
<p>When she was about in 7th gd- her class spent a week on the streets of Seattle. Working in food banks and shelters- walking to and from all over- trying to find public bathrooms- interviewing homeless and eating along side them in soup kitchens. They did have an indoor place to sleep- but the rest of the time they were on the streets. It was pretty enlightening for my daughter at least- who had never talked to a homeless person before- although I do know people who have been homeless at one point.</p>
<p>I still am a fan of requiring community service- I realize that to some they will just do it to get it over with- but I also think that some who never thought they would get anything out of it, get a lot.
My daughters school required 100 or 200 hours- which is more than the public schools who require 60. But for someone like either of my kids- who are fairly quiet and shy- community service is something that is slightly scary- putting themselves in a new situation, that they aren't really required to do- not like school.
Having it be required- got them to start thinking about what they would like to do, even before high school, and helped them find the motivation to find something they would really enjoy, and they have gotten much out of it.
IT totally changed my oldest- and I see my younger daughter gaining a lot as well, and I expect she will be even further changed after her month volunteering at a residential camp as a jr counselor</p>
<p>We don't allow them to decide what their graduation requirements will be- I don't have a problem wih requiring a minimum amount of community service- but then I think every one should have to give two years of community service after high school or college. :) ( govt supported)</p>