Greetings. I am The Voice. There has been no action as a result of THE VOICE this year, despite promises by the SAC in November, but this month's issue deserves immediate consideration. The mandatory Christian Service program is noticeably flawed. Overhauling the Christian Service program could improve the results of the program and drastically enhance the quality of senior year.

As the current program stands, seniors without any Advanced Placement classes leave school on April 11. AP students are required to stay in school to take their AP classes, but are free to leave school during their free periods. Non- AP students are required to do 90 hours of service over three weeks. Students in one AP class perform 70 hours; students in two AP class perform 50 hours; students in three AP classes or more perform 40 hours. Juniors are required to do 15 hours of service after school hours. Sophomores are required to do 10 hours, and freshmen are required to do 5 hours of service. The underclass requirements are acceptable, but the senior Christian Service program needs a drastic overhaul.

Brother Thomas Petitte, FMS, of the religious studies department, has submitted a proposal to change the Christian Service program multiple times. "We are rewarding the seniors with time off from school," said Bro. Petitte. "The same results can be attained without taking class time. Seniors are being cheated." While Bro. Petitte agrees with the intent of the Christian Service program, he feels that its structure is poor.

Bro. Petitte's proposal revolves around the prospect that students should not be rewarded for performing Christian Service. "There is an attitude at this school that you can't give anything unless you get something," said Bro. Petitte.

There are many reasons that Bro. Petitte is opposed to the current system. "As it stands, the program divides the class months before graduation. We lose cohesiveness. The senior class's last days together are gone." By dismissing theology classes permanently in April, the school creates the atmosphere that theology classes are not as important as AP classes. "Theology is just as important as English," he said. "The Christian Service program should be putting students in direct service to the neediest and poorest," he said. "Christian Service is not what you do, it's who you are."

The Christian Service program could be spread out over three years. Students would begin an 80-hour project at the end of sophomore year, which would have to be completed by the end of the first semester of senior year. This program would allow senior year to remain fully intact, while still allowing students to get very valuable service experience. This service could inspire students, much like the Malden Catholic Leadership Institute does, to take an interest in the state of school affairs. In addition, this program allows students to build skills in time management and project planning.

This year, the senior class has not done anything spectacular or groundbreaking. The Student Council and its president have been dormant. There have not been any improvements in the quality of student life. The proposed plan "could be a catalyst for school activity," said Bro. Petitte.

Although non-Christians do not agree with the Gospel traditions of Christian Service, one does not have to be Christian to serve their fellow human. Junior Jonathan Mooney would not be opposed to a revised system. "It seems to me that people do Christian Service merely to meet the requirement," said Mooney, an avowed atheist. "The program would be a success if people used it to accomplish major exploits in service. However, as they only use it to fill up hours on a sheet of paper, and since it is forced upon students, it is a failure."

There are two reasons that I support a change in the current system. The system, as it stands, cheats seniors out of their last month together and their last month of non-AP classes. This promotes the misconception that classes like theology are not academic disciplines, but rather paltry moral courses. The second, more important reason is that creating one massive Christian Service project to be performed over three semesters, if done properly, would give students a great feeling about service. This would create a genuine feeling of care for the MC community, which would spur positive change in the school.

I sincerely hope that the administration and the campus ministry department consider Bro. Petitte's proposal and my proposal, in the interest of making senior year a more complete experience for students. In the next edition, I will discuss the future of MC as a school and as a community.