Around Oakley: Community service program could be on chopping block

By Roni Gehlke
For the Contra Costa Times

A rumor is going around that the Liberty Union High School District, which includes Oakley's Freedom High School, will cut the Community Service Hours for seniors program next year.
This kind of rumor has hit the school waves every few years since the program started more than 20 years ago. Unfortunately, with the current educational cuts, who knows whether it will actually happen this time around.
Since its inception, the community service program has been controversial among students, their parents and the district. Although most students just grimly grin and bear it, others think the program lacks the ability to convince students, who are not already of that frame of mind, to become active volunteers and civic-minded.
"It really isn't volunteering if I'm forced to participate or not graduate," said Marco, a senior at Freedom High School who did not want his last name published.
As part of the American Government standards and benchmarks program, all seniors are required to volunteer their time working for a not-for-profit community group, such as their church or a local festival, or come up with a project that consists of a community service project that would qualify under the school's requirements.
This is not just a program Liberty Union High School District thought up on its own. The program is run in most high schools throughout the country, and if kids from East County think they have it bad, watch out because some districts are requiring much more.
San Francisco's school district reportedly is requiring 100 total hours that students begin their freshman year, completing 25 hours every year.
In Washington, the school district requires 60 hours of community service during students' senior year.
Back when the Liberty program started, I was in charge of the Oakley Almond Festival and for years used anywhere from 50 to 100 students to help with odd jobs for the weekend-long event.
For the most part, students were enthusiastic to have the chance to work with their friends and spend the warm weekend outdoor, but that wasn't everyone.
Added to that was the fact the festival was a simple program to get involved in and could fill all 20 hours in one short weekend, making it a quick fix for the students.
Some students hoped that with a big event like the festival, officials really wouldn't notice whether they clocked in and then disappeared for the day, only to sneak back in hoping no one noticed so that they could get credit. Obviously, those students weren't really understanding or learning anything from the concept.
The general premise of the program is well-intended. Learning the value of community service is sorely needed by today's youth. If the program stays, my own son will have to participate next year.
Some communities have changed the program to where local businesses and organizations, such as Good Will, actually have the students work and learn skills such as how to use computers, cash registers and the like in exchange for the hours. This changes the general premise of the program from community service to life skills.
If this rumor about Liberty's program is true, perhaps that might be an exchange in the program rather than giving it up.
Roni Gehlke is an Oakley resident. Reach her at ourbackyard@comcast.net.