I am a student in Arkansas, and I, alongside my peers, have been burdened by the state's new requirement of 75 hours of community service for graduation. This measure puts undue stress on us, effectively forcing us into a form of unpaid child labor against our will, which is illegal on many levels. We understand the value of community service, but believe it should not be mandatory for securing our future. Studies suggest that mandatory community service can lead to resentment and less volunteerism in later years. We have classes and future planning to do; how we spend our non-academic time should be up to us, and us alone.

The Arkansas Department of Education's decision needs to be challenged. Many of us already participate in community service and extra-curricular activities on our own terms. Requiring community service without considering other commitments, like part-time jobs, home duties, or academic workload, essentially encroaches on our personal lives and choices. In order to respect students' agency and provide equitable opportunities across social and economic backgrounds, it is essential that the decision is reversed.

This decision does not just impact students, however. Because students who are forced into community service have a high chance of developing an aversion to it, forcing them to do community service in order to graduate is likely to cause them never to do it again afterwards. This could negatively impact the community because people who might have otherwise done community service on their own time are now less likely to do it, causing harm to the community in the long run.

We call to the Arkansas Department of Education, asking them not to turn a valuable opportunity to serve the community into a mandate. Restore the right of students to choose how they give back, don't force it upon them. Stand by us - sign our petition to make your voice heard.

If you would like to support the cause or if you would like to contact us for business/media inquiries, you can contact us at bg053520@sdale.org.