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AP English Charity Many people donate to charity in their everyday lives, while others do it as an assignment. Individuals even give to charity just to receive money, gifts, or bonuses in return. Giving to charity portrays an act that certain people want to do for others, by the goodness of their hearts. However, then why do high schools ask their students who perform these tasks for a reward, such as extra credit and the ability to graduate? High schools that offer incentives for charitable acts become unethical since it takes away from the true meaning of giving.
Teachers who offer students bonus points to those who bring in money, food, etc. don’t realize other people’s socioeconomic status. Although, by offering a reward will result in more students participating, those who live less fortunately may not obtain the food or clothing to donate. Families may be low on money; therefore enabling their children to donate to the cause and resulting in their child not receive bonus points since they need such items for themselves. High schools who offer incentives do not fairly give each student an equal opportunity.
Donating for grades appears as unjust and irrational since not everyone may be able to afford it, while donating without expecting anything in return remains reasonable to everyone in society. At Wahlert Catholic High School we do not exchange donations for grades. It appears required of us to perform acts of giving to those of the community who reach out in need of it, without anything in return and enabling us to graduate. We do, however, arrange collections to help those in need.
For example, when Japan experienced a tsunami, the whole school came together and raised a great deal of money to send over and help out. We donated from our hearts since we didn’t get anything in return. We remain left with the satisfaction of helping those in dire need of it. Therefore, the ways of the high schools such as Wahlert Catholic, happen to exist as ethical and portrays the truth behind giving to others in need. At Mazzuchelli Catholic Middle School, we did the very opposite and exchanged money for the right to come out of dress code.
Yes, by doing this a lot of students got to wear whatever they wanted and the school raised a good chunk of money to give to nearby charities. However, the students gave their (or their parents) money not by thinking about the charities, but the clothes they became capable of wearing. This defeats the purpose of giving and carrying out the true Christian ways. Schools, such as Mazzuchelli, mean well by giving the opportunity to its children to do something new, in this case, no uniforms for the day.
However, they should teach the kids the real reason to donated money, without the incentives they may receive. As Catholics, we should act in the way Jesus would and for the right purpose. We often ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do? ” and wonder if giving to charity for a grade exists as the right thing? High schools need to encourage students to go out of their ways for others. Those who give to charity carry out their Christian morals by following in Jesus’ footsteps and doing what he would want his followers to do.
On the other hand, by gaining extra credit or carrying through with charitable acts just to graduate exposes the wrong message. High schools that pursue these sorts of encouragements exist fair-minded, although others may argue it undermines the true value of charity. Students who give their time and possessions to charity act as true Christians and seem right minded. However, those who complete charitable deeds just to obtain objects in return portray immoral and wicked actions.
High schools that offer its students the choice of donating for improving their grades usually mean well, but by doing this, it does not teach the kids the reason why they serve. High school students know to do what appears right and live out Jesus’ laws. Pursuing the act of donation affects many people and families, as well as influencing others to give. Therefore, carrying through the act of donation within high schools without any rewards reveals individuals as altruistic and leaves them with the knowledge of the true meaning of giving.