Community service - let's make it a cultural norm

Ideally, community service should be voluntary. But that depends on the concept of service to community being inculcated in every youth — one cannot be expected to volunteer for something of which one is ignorant.

I believe many families in Bermuda are not conveying to their youthful members a sense of community and the role all individuals play in the health of that community. I am keenly interested in how we can fill that gap in our socialisation.

In May 2000 the Bermuda Sun published a two-part piece I wrote about a National Youth Service Corps. Below is most of that column.

We have depended upon the "family" to inculcate the values we hold dear. If we already have families who are having difficulty imparting our social mores and values to their offspring, then the crops of kids coming out of those families will be even less able to bring these values to the families they form. While we observe the family as we knew it, or idealised it, is breaking down, we have not yet put a substitute in place. Our schools can't take up the slack - it's not their mission, nor are schools and teachers designed/trained to do the primary job of socialising our children. And there's no other social vehicle that touches all our kids.

This problem didn't start with the current generation - it won't go away on its own.

We need to be thinking about a new mechanism for instilling in the community's children a sense of fitting in; of belonging to the group we call community.

We need a mechanism that can instill the cultural values and social skills we commonly hold dear; that complements the job most parents are doing, shores up the job for parents that are struggling, and fills in for parents who aren't getting the job done; that doesn't depend on waiting until a parent runs into difficulty or until a kid runs into trouble before it kicks in.

A key part of growing up in any community is developing sense of belonging, of ownership, of being a part of rather than alienated from the community. It's through our families that this connection has traditionally been made and nurtured.

Some families are doing a good job of this; many are not. So how can we have our children, all of them, share in the care of our Island? It doesn't help to treat the children as the problem and seek to rehabilitate them, or imply the parents are at fault and offer them training.

Don't get me wrong, training for parents is a good thing. So is engaging youth in programmes like Outward Bound, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, and in the Peer Mediation and Mentoring programmes in schools.

However, all these programmes are voluntary - parents or children can choose not to participate in them. I am convinced we need a more comprehensive approach, one that enables every adolescent/teenager to spend considerable time during his/her formative years developing an understanding of, participation in, and responsibility for what it means to be a good citizen.

I think the way to go would be something like a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Now this is not a new idea. Several schemes have been explored for Bermuda and one or two already proposed.

I'd be inclined to make participation in the NYSC compulsory, and pervasive, so that for an hour-and-a-half or so immediately after the school day ends, every youth aged 13 to 15 (or older) would take part in an NYSC programme. In addition to the after school component, during the summer vacations, each youngster would do a two week (or longer) stint on an in-residence programme.

Some of these programmes would be the extra curricular activities that already are in place, including the sporting activities and those mentioned above. Additional programmes would be added to create a consolidated package covering the following areas:

• civics - an understanding of the laws and governance of the country and the rights and responsibilities of citizens;

• marine competency - sail training, boatmanship;

• roadworthiness - rules and courtesies for road users;

• organising - leadership & followship skills;

• discipline - self discipline as well as task-oriented discipline;

• heritage - an overview of our history, customs, traditions; our national achievements;

• social skills - mediation, negotiation and relationship skills;

• community service - ranging from errands for the elderly and shut-in to removing graffiti and tidying up littered areas;

• environment/conservation - an understanding of how humans and the environment affect each other.

Each youngster would be required to complete a given number of programmes to graduate from the Corps. The graduation would be a special affair — a community-wide welcoming of a young person into citizenship.

The NYSC would not be a remedial programme for youth gone astray or a punishment for bad deeds or wrong behaviour. Nor is it meant to be a merit programme for achievers. Rather it would be a service programme through which our youth would feel they were earning entitlement to the benefits of joining our society.

I realise some will protest with all sorts of bogey ideas about the NYSC resembling socialism or an Orwellian future. I imagine there were once similar arguments against public education. However, we have few choices. The faster pace of life and higher costs of living have brought with them a trend toward cultural chaos.

The "family" as we knew or idealised it, will not likely be coming back-though we shouldn't give up hope. Meanwhile, we cannot depend on the family fulfilling its traditional role as seedbed for societal values. We need an innovative and far-reaching substitute to instill cultural order in current and future generations.

That's my suggestion. What's yours?

Comments

[silencedogood on 01.05.06 at 18:22]

I wouldn't call it a boogeyman, but maybe in need of PR. If you pitch these ideas as an addition to school curriculum you might get less resistance. Overall, they all seem to be good topics.

[ace on 01.05.06 at 19:11]

Good suggestions, but if a uniform with arm-bands becomes a part of the NYSC it would be a bit too Hitler Youth for my likeing. (I had to use another example...socialism and Orwellian were already taken.)

;-)

[Two Cents on 01.05.06 at 21:43]

Great ideas Stuart!!

Perhaps if we started a programme like this we'd be able to cut down on teen pregnancy, teen drug use, and general youth disorder that we are currently experiencing.

In addition I would start an other programme whereas parents are made to be more responsible for their children’s behavior i.e if kids are caught with drugs or either becoming pregnant or making a girl pregnant, or exhibiting violent behavior, the parents should be held responsible for their children’s actions (maybe charged with “Bad Parenting”)

Bermuda’s youth is like this because of a lack of parental guidance and parents aren’t setting an example

[Bill Cook on 01.05.06 at 22:04]

Two Cents,

We had I think 14 children born to girls under 16 past year and to the best of my knowledge no one was convicted of statutory rape.

Why is this possible and who do we educate to prevent it reoccuring again and again ?

In my on hands personal experience in the institutions I found most of those under my care had very poor family backgrounds if you can use the term family that is.

There seems to be an absolute reluctance to address this matter so it wil probably continue to perpetuate.

[stuart J Hayward on 02.05.06 at 00:34]

Two Cents writes:
In addition I would start an other programme whereas parents are made to be more responsible for their children’s behavior i.e if kids are caught with drugs or either becoming pregnant or making a girl pregnant, or exhibiting violent behavior, the parents should be held responsible for their children’s actions (maybe charged with “Bad Parenting”)

Bermuda’s youth is like this because of a lack of parental guidance and parents aren’t setting an example

It might be helpful to follow this idea out to its completion. If a parent is charged and convicted, what penalty could be applied that would result in better parenting? Certainly not a fine or imprisonment. We could sentence them to parenting classes. I would support that. I would much prefer that the base skills of parenting — communication, relationship-building, conflict resolution and values clarification — all be part of every youth's education. The strategy being to prevent rather than cure.

At the moment, biological parenting can take place with people whose own parents had little of positive parenting skills. We can identify these repeating inadequate parents, but merely blaming them or punishing them does little for them or their soon-to-be-parents offspring.

[Shark on 02.05.06 at 05:30]

All this sounds fine except the part about posibly imprisement or fines for parents. A similer thing as been tried over here in the UK with Tony Blairs respect agenda. It hasent helped much mainly as children think they can get away with it as there under 18 so no criminial charges. Also they can try to hide behind the humman rights laws which just scares parents.

I mean how can parents control there kids when they could possily sue them with humman rights abuse.

[Cynic on 02.05.06 at 09:21]

Bill

One reason no one may have been convicted of statutory rape is because the fathers themselves could be under 16, and if I am correct, if both parents are under 16 there are no charges to be filed.

Also the mothers and the mothers' parents may feel more harm is being done by depriving the mother and the child of the father if he is sent to prison. Especially if he is only 16 or 17 himself. I think if the fathers are in their twenties or thirties it is more ridiculous, but to convict a 16 year old of sleeping with a 15 year old, when there could only be a few months difference in the age is to me a bit ridiculous. Most girls age 15 are dating 16 & 17 year olds.

In my opinion the statutory rape charge should be when it is felt that an older person has taken advantage of a younger person. I think there should be an age disparity that allows for prosecution i.e. if the girl is 15 the guy cannot be older than 18 or something like that.

[Bill Cook on 02.05.06 at 09:29]

Punishment is an effective deterrent in many justifiable circumstances.

One such would be when an adult male has sex with a 14 year old girl with the possibility as sometimes happens that the child becomes pregnant.

As long as we stubbornly absolutely refuse first to admit this is happening on an increasing basis and secondly refusing to carry out the law its difficult to see how it will reduce let alone be halted.

As long as we continue to be apologists for errant behaviour the chances that children born of this illegal behaviour will be severly penalised and statistics indicate will more likely than not be institutionalised.

This behaviour has to be halted ASAP.

[Bill Cook on 02.05.06 at 09:36]

Cynic,

Our posts crossed before I saw yrs.

If ever there was a case for abortion it seems to me when two children have sex and the girl child gets pregnant.

Surely when one goes to hospital full details of the father should be given and confirmed with a blood test.

There are many cases in my opinion where the father is much older than the girl.

Any child under age esp as young as say 14 or 15 becomes pregnant it becomes a legal matter.

[Ali on 02.05.06 at 10:45]

There is no question that the youth need to be given direction before the age of 14. One way that this is going to happen starting next year is through The Bermuda Sloop Foundation, a wonderful organisation that is seeking to help our youth develop skills, leadership and discipline BEFORE they get into trouble. The NYSC is a good idea in principle but the difference is that it targets the result of the problem rather than the cause. There are an estimated 600 kids coming onto the streets every year with no skills and sub standard education. The BSF will be able to help many of these high risk youths find a direction.

[V on 02.05.06 at 10:51]

I think Mr. Hayward's suggestions make eminent good sense. But such an ambitious scheme will never happen without official backing. Would it be worth petitioning the Education Ministry, suggesting they implement an island-wide afterschool community service scheme? Or would this type of appeal just fall on deaf ears? It would be fair to say that I, and many other Bermudians, have been left underwhelmed by the Ministry's lethargic attitude and dismissive approach to its critics. But the reality is we cannot sit back and allow yet another generation of young Bermudians to get left behind in an increasingly complex economy. Is there any good reason to think/hope the Education Ministry has changed its bad old ways?

[17yeersold on 02.05.06 at 11:06]

I'd be inclined to make participation in the NYSC compulsory, and pervasive, so that for an hour-and-a-half or so immediately after the school day ends, every youth aged 13 to 15 (or older) would take part in an NYSC programme.

So to all the kids who have school work to do when do you expect them to do this? Many younger kids will get to school at 8 o'clock and so having such a long day...everyday will surely just become a nuisance and make people not want to go. So after a 9 hour day, we must go home, I would assume getting stuck in 5 o'clock traffic would add at least 30mins if not more to their commute. They will get home, shower, eat, and then have an hour or 2 of school work...yea, sounds like a day we all want. I'd pass or simply not go if this programme was created.

In addition to the after school component, during the summer vacations, each youngster would do a two week (or longer) stint on an in-residence programme.

And to those kids that work how will they get compensated? 2 weeks is WAAAY to much time..and yet you say 'or longer'. Such an immense programme would require dozens and dozens of specially trained instructors and where would they come from? To make it compulsory for me to spend 2 weeks away from my family in order to accomplish something my parents are already doing would be a waste. I have given an hour a week in community service for the last 3 years...most private school students will HAVE to do this in order to graduate. So on top of this, we would have to do more? Please, this idea seems like a waste of time and would only cause headaches.

[stuart J Hayward on 02.05.06 at 11:20]

Ali writes:
There is no question that the youth need to be given direction before the age of 14.

I agree. An important evolution of a NYSC scheme would be to extend it to earlier age cohorts.

The Bermuda Sloop Foundation, a wonderful organisation that is seeking to help our youth develop skills, leadership and discipline BEFORE they get into trouble.

I wholeheartedly support the BSF and wrote about it here. I believe that scheme is going to have a significant impact on youth development as it intends to 'capture' virtually all our youth and put them through a character- and team-building regime.

[Uncle Elvis on 02.05.06 at 11:29]

A question just popped into my head.

A friend of mine is British. He's been here for 15 years. His kids were born in England, but were brought up here. This means that they can't even get a part-time side hustle packing groceries.
Would they be forced to participate in this programme? If so, is that really fair? They aren't citizens, they aren't treated as citizens...

dunno.. just a thought.

[Two Cents on 02.05.06 at 11:51]

Good Question Uncle Elvis,

In the case of expat kids, perhaps the kid's schools & parents should help in making that decision, based on the kid's grades, extra cirricular avtivities, and general attitude.

Once I was in the same position as your friends kid's. I wasn't born here, and during the smmers holidays, as I couldn't work I was often left to my own devices, and often ended up in trouble. I know I could have done with some volunteering,community service or something else to keep me inline.

But with Immigration's New 'Term Limit' Idea, It sounds like him & his kids won't have to worry about that for too much longer ...lol

[Bill Cook on 02.05.06 at 11:54]

Elvis,

I can understand your friends dilemma, and my solution was that school children should be allowed to do small jobs that fell into small change categories, ie shopping for old folk packing groceries cleaning up around seniors houses etc. regardless of nationality but it poses problems too.

Remember I think it is true that any British citizen who is domiciled here is eligible to do service in the Regiment as your dad and I were.

We were excempted because of our occupation but otherwise were liable.

Whether this was enforced I am not sure, but bear in mind once you or your parents decide to become part of this community it brings with it responsibilities including contributing to the solutions of local problems, and to be fair many do.

[stuart J Hayward on 02.05.06 at 11:55]

17yeersold writes:
To make it compulsory for me to spend 2 weeks away from my family in order to accomplish something my parents are already doing would be a waste.

You raise a valid point: some parents are already doing many, if not all, the things an NYSC is intended to do. However, the ones that are not are leaving a problem that affects us all. Even if some families are already giving their children good citizenship training, it would be in their interest that no family be left out. Rather than see it as a waste, you might see it as an opportunity for you and others like you to add what you are learning at home to the citizenship development of your less advantaged peers.

I have given an hour a week in community service for the last 3 years...most private school students will HAVE to do this in order to graduate. So on top of this, we would have to do more?

Perhaps, but not necessarily. In the event an NYSC scheme was put into place, the current community service regimes could well be assimilated, not added to.

[stuart J Hayward on 02.05.06 at 11:57]

Uncle Elvis,
"When in Rome"... and all that.

[Two Cents on 02.05.06 at 13:08]

"This problem didn't start with the current generation" - Stuart Hayward

It may not have started with this current generation, however the situation is as bad as it has ever been, as each generation is getting progressivley worse with it's behavior, work ethic, and outlook for Bermuda.

[tilti on 02.05.06 at 13:57]

Stuart,
I agree with 17yeerold here. To me this program is a little too national socialist. I have done most of the requirements you stated above, but have done most of them overseas. How would your proposal account for this? I went to a great school where leadership classes were part of the curriculum, volunteering was mandatory and sports were required. Over the summers I traveled, worked and taught programs similar to outward bound. Would these oppurtunities be sacrificed for my the NYSC?

[stuart J Hayward on 02.05.06 at 14:01]

Two cents,
My point exactly (see earlier comment). Without intervention, the problem worsens. The question is, what can we do that doesn't wait until the problem manifests — that is proactive rather than punitive? Got any ideas?

[Bill Cook on 02.05.06 at 16:59]

Tilti ,

if you had done national service overseas you would be exempted from doing it here in Bermuda.

[stuart J Hayward on 03.05.06 at 05:36]

tilti writes:
Stuart, I agree with 17yeerold here. To me this program is a little too national socialist.

Not much more than our existing education system or vaccination regimes, though I’m sure these were/are considered by some to be “too national socialist”.

We have some societal norms. Some are health related like not spitting in public; some are cultural like ; some are public safety like driving uniformly on the left side of the road; some are shared by most communities like being clothed in public; some are sort of unique to Bermuda like saying “Good Morning” as a prerequisite for any conversation. Without passing judgment on any one of our norms, I would suggest we have a national and possibly socialist interest in having those norms passed from generation to generation. We all feel the pinch when they are not.

I have done most of the requirements you stated above, but have done most of them overseas. How would your proposal account for this? I went to a great school where leadership classes were part of the curriculum, volunteering was mandatory and sports were required. Over the summers I traveled, worked and taught programs similar to outward bound. Would these oppurtunities be sacrificed for my the NYSC?

If you (or anyone else) were being schooled overseas it would be impossible to include you in an after-school program, yes? Or register you for a summer program?

Give me some feedback on the concept, or some other ideas about how we instill the basics of good citizenship in youth who come from less-than-ideal families.

[stuart J Hayward on 03.05.06 at 05:40]

oops:
Some are cultural like yielding your seat on the bus to an older person