feel does not address their issues and that they feel powerless to change. Studies show
that present-day youth are involved in community-based activities to a greater extent than
were their politically active “1960s” parents at a similar age. Research also indicates that
youth contribute as much as older citizens to service work, and that the number of them
engaged in volunteerism has been on the rise (National Association of Secretaries of
State 1999; Keeter, et al. 2002; Shanks, et al 2002;). Numerical claims aside, however, it
does not necessarily follow that increased volunteerism is a product of the “civic spirit”
of today’s youth. Many colleges now include community service as a factor in
admissions and scholarship programs are emphasizing it as well; therefore, secondary
schools are requiring students to volunteer. Some states have even mandated such work
as a requirement for high school graduation (Galston 2000). The National Youth
Development Information Center (2000) found that students are much more likely to
volunteer when their schools require and arrange the service. When schools did so, 59%
of sixth through twelfth graders participate, compared with 29% when schools did
neither.
Young people sincerely choosing to volunteer may be rewarded by what they see
to be the instant results of their efforts, something that is not the case with casting a
ballot. Volunteering and voting appear to be unrelated to one another as volunteers are no
more likely to vote than non-volunteers (NASS 1999; Keeter, et al. 2002); Strama (1998)
reports that focus groups of “active volunteers” expressed drawing inspiration from the
immediate impact of their work. Potentially significant was the apparent disconnect
between the focus group participants’ positive attitudes about their community service
efforts and their lack of interest in broader movements for social change. Work at a health
clinic for the poor may not be associated with the health care reform movement; literacy
9
Convention