Mansfield School Committee Discusses Mandated Community Service

The Mansfield High School offers literally hundreds of community service opportunities for students, and School Committee member Kiera O'Neil suggested that it may be beneficial to require service for graduation.

"I don't know whether this is something the high school is already looking at," O'Neil said. "I know a lot of other schools are doing it, and it fits right in with the civic expectations of 21st century learning."

Superintendent Brenda Hodges said that she had previously requested the high school to list all of the opportunities and community service activities in which students are already involved. MHS Student Service Corps. President Brett Fortin said the list doesn't even come close.

"The oppertunities are definitely there," he said. "Looking at this list, this probably isn't even half the list of stuff we've done this year. AS president [of the Corps.] for the past four years, I've definitely noticed more and more people getting involved. Each year we get probably 20 people who are thoroughly committed."

The Corps. holds bi-monthly meetings at the high school and encourages any student to attend. The club sometimes takes trips to far off places to volunteer their time, and helped clean up .

"Looking at it really quickly, I don't see the necessity for a mandate," Fortin said. "I do believe that most of the student body is actively involved."

The committee agreed to study other nearby schools, such as Norton High School, who mandate community service for graduation and see what the benefits look like.

Community service is a definite boost for any college applicant, and school committee members said they would consider the issue at a later date.