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School officials are hoping to give the Dedham Public Schools’ community service program a boost.
Currently, 40 hours of community service are required for graduation from Dedham High School, recently doubled from 20 hours, but Superintendent June Doe said the program is lacking.
“We need to be a little bit more creative in leading students to community service projects, but also hold them more accountable,” Doe said at a School Committee meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 18.
Dedham High Principal Ron McCarthy suggested requiring 10 hours of documented service each year a student attends the high school before allowing a student to pass to the next grade.
“We want to make it a more meaningful experience,” McCarthy said of the program. “Students might find they are interested in their project rather than rush it.”
McCarthy said class advisors and advisory groups should get involved in helping students select projects.
“I think we need to do a better job to promote activities kids can do and create a culture of giving back to the community,” McCarthy said, adding that students who become passionate about their projects often exceed the hour requirement.
Joanne McCormick, director of guidance for the Dedham Public Schools, said colleges look for students who show that willingness to go above and beyond.
School Committee member Dimitria Sullivan, who was on a committee eight years ago that established the community service program, said she has been disappointed with it in recent years.
“It’s important enough to the school committee that we have it as a graduation requirement,” Sullivan said of community service.
School Committee member Susan Butler Walko suggested identifying and awarding students who perform the most community service.
School Committee member Thomas Ryan asked whether the requirements of the program should go as far as they do.
“I think we need the program and we have to work out the kinks, but if I’m standing on the football field on graduation day and we have a student who has passed all classes, is a contributing member of the school and a good kid but doesn’t have 40 hours, I’m not going to tell you to deny them a high school diploma,” Ryan said.
The program will be renamed “community service learning,” McCarthy said, adding he will continue to work on it.
The goal is to provide a meaningful and rich learning experience, he said.
Staff writer Dave Eisenstadter can be reached at 781-433-8336 or deisenstadter@wickedlocal.com.
School officials are hoping to give the Dedham Public Schools’ community service program a boost.
Currently, 40 hours of community service are required for graduation from Dedham High School, recently doubled from 20 hours, but Superintendent June Doe said the program is lacking.
“We need to be a little bit more creative in leading students to community service projects, but also hold them more accountable,” Doe said at a School Committee meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 18.
Dedham High Principal Ron McCarthy suggested requiring 10 hours of documented service each year a student attends the high school before allowing a student to pass to the next grade.
“We want to make it a more meaningful experience,” McCarthy said of the program. “Students might find they are interested in their project rather than rush it.”
McCarthy said class advisors and advisory groups should get involved in helping students select projects.
“I think we need to do a better job to promote activities kids can do and create a culture of giving back to the community,” McCarthy said, adding that students who become passionate about their projects often exceed the hour requirement.
Joanne McCormick, director of guidance for the Dedham Public Schools, said colleges look for students who show that willingness to go above and beyond.
School Committee member Dimitria Sullivan, who was on a committee eight years ago that established the community service program, said she has been disappointed with it in recent years.
“It’s important enough to the school committee that we have it as a graduation requirement,” Sullivan said of community service.
School Committee member Susan Butler Walko suggested identifying and awarding students who perform the most community service.
School Committee member Thomas Ryan asked whether the requirements of the program should go as far as they do.
“I think we need the program and we have to work out the kinks, but if I’m standing on the football field on graduation day and we have a student who has passed all classes, is a contributing member of the school and a good kid but doesn’t have 40 hours, I’m not going to tell you to deny them a high school diploma,” Ryan said.
The program will be renamed “community service learning,” McCarthy said, adding he will continue to work on it.
The goal is to provide a meaningful and rich learning experience, he said.
Staff writer Dave Eisenstadter can be reached at 781-433-8336 or deisenstadter@wickedlocal.com.
