Student Service Learning, or SSL, is a valuable way for students to give back to their communities and learn important life skills. MCPS required 75 SSL hours for each student in order to graduate. The question of whether or not high school students should be required to complete service learning hours to graduate has been a topic of debate for many years
Some students have very busy lives with classes, extracurricular activities and part-time jobs. Requiring service hours might add to students’ stress and take away the freedom for students to choose how they spend their time.
When service learning is mandatory, some students might participate without genuine interest, which takes away from the true spirit of community service. It is important for students to engage in service because they want to, not because it is required.
Additionally, not all students have the same opportunities for service learning. Requiring service hours might be harder for students from low-income backgrounds who struggle to find suitable opportunities, creating an unfair situation.
Requiring service learning could put a strain on community organizations. If too many students are required to volunteer, it might be hard for these organizations to manage and provide meaningful experiences for all students.
Additionally, high school should be a time for students to focus on their studies and prepare for their future. Requiring service hours might take away from the time they need to do well in their classes.
There are valid reasons for not requiring service learning hours for graduation at MCPS. Students should have the freedom to choose how they want to spend their time outside of classes. Mandating service hours might not always lead to authentic participation, and it can be challenging for students with busy lives or fewer opportunities.
It’s essential to find a balance that allows students to engage in community service voluntarily while also allowing them to focus on their academic success. The decision should be made with the best interests of the students in mind, so they can grow, learn and contribute to their community in a way that feels meaningful and genuine to them.
