Colb - is your school a public school? I've heard this practice has been more successful at private or charter schools where volunteer service is part of of the package in return for enrolling.
And we've seen it as part of some sports organizations. My children both swim competitvely and their swim club has such a clause. Parents must do a certain amount of volunteer hours at meets in order for their children to participate. It's very clearly stated in the initial paperwork.
I agree that it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to enforce such a plan at a public school other than as a completely voluntary program.
While the initial concept may sound like a good idea, I don't think it would be very well received by more than a few families. Maybe in a smaller school it could work, but with a school of 700 or more students, there simply wouldn't be enough for every family to do 30 hours each.
I certainly wouldn't pay $10 per hour under that 30 hour requirement to a voluntary, non-profit organization under obligation.
Our school requires 30 hours worth of service credit hours to be fulfilled. If you do not fulfill all of your hours, you must pay $10 per non-worked hour. Each family is given a service credit card at registration that is to be filled out and signed by the chairperson of the event that is being worked. The school family is responsible to bring this card and get it signed at all functions worked. We have seen a modest increase in the number of parents that show up to work an event, but mainly it is still the same people you see everywhere doing everything. I give our program a B. A few families choose to just pay instead of working any hours, and that was not the intention of the program at all. We wanted more faces helping at the events, not the $$.
Is anyone involved in a successful service hours program?
We have had one but suspended it a few years ago and now the school's involved parents want it brought back. They believe that a service hours program with stated minimum expectations will help other parents get involved. If you have a program, is it working? Do you offer cash buy outs for parents who cannot fulfill the hours required?
