Governor Gray Davis will propose a plan this year to make
public service a graduation requirement in California’s
higher education system.
In an LA Times story, Davis says, “I think it’s
very important. One of the ethics of the World War II generation
was a sense of obligation to the future and an appreciation for
what they inherited — and that is getting away from us.
“You can talk about mastering this subject and getting
that marketable skill, but if you don’t understand how fortunate
you are to be an American in 1999, then you haven’t read
history and you don’t realize what has transpired to allow
you to have that good fortune.”
The idea struck LPC Dean Don Milanese as somewhat “problematic.”
While he agreed that everyone should contribute something back
to their communities, and he applauded the notion that students
could receive credit for doing so, he had reservations about
requiring it at community colleges. “I think this might
work at the university level, but because of the nature of community
college students — many of whom hold jobs and go to school
part-time — I think it would be difficult to do here,”
he said.
Some high schools and universities in California already have
public service requirements. Officials from the UC and CSU system
said that their colleges encourage students to perform such service
as tutoring, mentoring, and volunteer work with community agencies.
Ann Bancroft, a state information officer, stressed that the
proposal would be helpful both to the student volunteers and
to society in general.
“It is important for people to establish a connection
to their community, and to develop the ethic of giving back.
It will be helpful to all of society,” she said
Davis is uncertain when his plan might begin or what types
of public service may be required. The office of the Secretary
for Education is currently researching ways to put this plan
into effect. The office has not yet made a final proposal