Should Teen Volunteers be Charged for Community Service on Teen Courts

Some people are under the misconception that one or more teen court programs insist on charging a fee of teenagers volunteering their services on a teen court program. Nothing is further from the truth. Teenagers, as well as adults, are encouraged to join as dues paying club members involved in a youth leadership training association or club. There are a number of non profit organizations around the country that have dues paying members and that sponsor teen court programs. There are thousands of clubs around the country that charge dues and also provide volunteers for service projects in the community.

The teen members do volunteer their services to operate teen court programs. This volunteered service to the community is no different than other organizations volunteering their services to clean yards, paint over graffiti, help the needy, and do other worthwhile projects. Teen Court club members are also provided a wealth of benefits. They are provided youth leadership training throughout their membership year. They are provided training in such areas as job related education in which they learn how to properly apply for jobs and conduct themselves during interviews, to increase their opportunities of finding employment. They are provided with law related education in which they learn not only about civil and criminal law, but they also learn about ethical and moral laws and expectations. They are provided with a learning experience that will help them to become more self-reliant and more confident in their own abilities. They are provided with a means to increase their academic growth and maintain or improve their academic grades. They are not only encouraged to succeed in secondary school, but also to continue their education through college into the careers of their choice.

Teenagers are encouraged to become successful in the career of their choice. To succeed in the path they choose. To help others while traveling that path and not step on others along the way. They are encouraged to participate in a club that will given them recognition and respect for their ability to take on responsibility in a program that will help direct others to the path of righteousness. They learn that the power of the pen is stronger than the sword and that the democratic way of life of the American people and its judicial system is one to respect and take pride in.

Teenagers are given an opportunity to help shape the lives of their peers. Peers that may have wondered off the path, but have been encouraged to return to it and to follow the signs that show them how to remain on it. Teenagers are shown how to respect one another regardless of race, economic differences, cultures, religion and other differences that appear to make them different. They learn that some teenagers get in trouble because they crave attention or because they are trying to hide the truth from others. For example, a teenager that can't read may act up in class to avoid being called to read. Another may act up because he is trying to be liked and tries to show that he is not offended or embarrassed when others make fun of him.

These activities and forms of involvement are on the serious side, however, the teenagers enjoy many of the serious activities and often have fun with them. In addition, of course, there are activities which are designed to be fun and enjoyable, but as learning experiences that show that teenagers can have fun without doing things that can get them in trouble. They are involved in a minimum of one social event per month, such as a barbecue or party. They are provided tickets to events such as movies, Olympic events, talent shows and more. These events are attended as a group having fun.. They are active in a variety of community service projects that they can have fun with while helping others. They pay participate in a Halloween haunted house project in which they may dress up as monsters to scare individuals who pay to see the event with the money going to a children's hospital or muscular dystrophy.

They may be involved in a can food drive or a clothing drive to help feed or clothe the less fortunate and by doing so receive a warm feeling of appreciation for a job well done. They will not, however, participate in a trash pickup or cleanup project designed to clean any one's neighborhood. We treasure our teenagers too much to take a chance with them by exposing them to an environment in which they may contaminate themselves with an infectious disease such as aids or other disease by handling an infected discarded needle, broken glass, or sharp tin can. Some programs might say that they protect the teenagers during trash clean ups by making them wear rubber, cotton, or work gloves. I don't know of a regular glove that can't be penetrated by a needle infected with aids if picked up the wrong way or accidently pushing one's hand against it while reaching for something else. Individuals have also been known to sustain injuries from sharp metals and broken glass piercing their gloves.

The teenagers constantly receive praise and recognition, which for some is rare in their school or family environments. They receive awards, gifts, and other forms of recognition during their membership as well as an opportunity to receive a scholarship. Their direct involvement in the club gains them respect in their own peer community as well as in the adult community. They are also provided accidental medical coverage in the event they get hurt while involved in the club activities. Many teenagers and their families do not even have medical insurance. Are $30 a year membership dues considered a punishment for providing a volunteer service to the teen court through the club? Not hardly. Is it worth $30 a year for a family to involve their teenager in a club that will provide all of the aforementioned benefits. Absolutely, in fact many clubs charge more and provide less. Make no mistake about it, parents have paid ten times as much and more on behalf of their teenagers and received much less in return.