What is a mandatory senior project? Is this a common requirement?

Question

It's been years since I was in high school and I'd never heard anything like this until recently. I have friends w/ high-school kids. They say it's now a requirement for a senior to do a very lengthy, time consuming, and often expensive project that requires summer work and volunteerism in order to graduate. Is this true of all states?
What are some of the types of projects the kids do? What if, say a child goes overseas to spend time w/ a parent after divorce during the summer & doesn't have the time or money to do volunteer work for a project? Does the high school deny graduation?
Any info would be appreciated. I've just never heard of this & it sounds illegal to me. Seems like required work should be required during the school year, not during summer.
Thanks!

I don't think 2 of you have understood what I've asked. I'm not COMPLAINING and I'm not saying school should be ILLEGAL or that kids shouldn't be required to do work.
I'm 40 years old, I'm not in school. My kids aren't in high school yet. I've never known of "mandatory projects" that require SUMMER work, including spending your own money or working or volunteering that is mandatory during the SUMMER time. It seems that during a childs summer vacation he should be able to do whatever he wants. Mandatory stuff should be required during the required school year.
And I'm not complining one way or the other. I'm simply asking how common this is in states other than TX and examples of what type of projects kids do.
Thanks to the one person who at least said some kids worked to build a house. Thanks for actually reading my question & providing a legit answer.

Answer 1

This is fairly common and in my opinion very beneficial. Some of the people in my high school class built two houses during the summer before their senior year, and those were sold at below market value to people on a special housing list, with the profit going to supplement more similar high school projects. Those who remain in the same town still mention they helped build them when they pass by those two beautiful homes.
To be involved in a big project builds self confidence in those involved and gives a lesson in the satisfaction that comes from finishing what we start and service to community.
In my opinion, this is one of the best aids offered by the public school sustem to help transition graduates into society.
Certainly, a student could released from this obligation by the school board if appealed and the appeal had irrefutable merit. The board would be doing the student and family a disservice if they grant waivers for the asking, however.
Myself, I quit high school at 16 and joined the Navy at 17, where I got my GED. Although I got my GED before my class graduated, I missed some of the most important lessons my high school had to offer me, and I do not have complete fellowship with my graduating class, as they do with each other. I have since graduated from college, but there are still things I don't understand about society that others take for granted. I am convinced these are things I should have learned in high school.
If money is the problem, a good school board will supplement the student before letting them off the hook for their project.

Answer 2

Some systems use an exit exam - your project sounds better. Gather your aunts and uncles, and maybe even grandparents and run your complaints by them. But structure it as follows: In using the inner circle (also called fishbowl) technique I announce that at the next class meeting we are going to have a class within a class, with 6 to 15 students acting as the discussion group and the others as observers. Classroom has movable chairs? Then arrange the seating in concentric circles. Students who are normally silent will talk when they feel the increased sense of responsibility as members of the inner circle. This "fishbowl" can be used in small, as well as large, classes. Tell students that at the next class meeting the teacher chooses 6 to 15 students to be "in the fishbowl." You then conduct a discussion (based on the work to date) with the students in the fishbowl. The rest of the students are to act as observers and recorders, noting both the process and the content of the discussion. Before the end of the class period, observers write a brief summary of the discussion and/or answer the question, "What would you have said that wasn't said?"

Answer 3

Yes, education is illegal. I think they should do away with Tax paid day cares, oops, I mean schools. It the responsibility of parents to educate their children, only if they want to. It stupid to try to teach someone that not want to learn.
BUT, if a child wants to learn and this a requirement I would believe the school can work out something when they go overseas or where ever, if, they want to learn.
I believe they heading for a 12 month a year school system anyway, with breaks in between Semesters. So, guess people need to adjust to the Educational demands of Society.

Answer 4

I would desire to do a fifteen internet site paper. so 6 six pages is a walk interior the park. a extra suitable question is who theory it would be a solid thought to make us do a undertaking and end surely coaching us at school what we would desire to understand for our lives. in case you notice this technology is stupid and entitled and we basically study for a attempt on the top of the year. constructive we can do complicated math yet that would not help in case you are able to particularly verbalize your self on an grownup point. why do not we've a needed type on life skills (ie: cooking your individual nutrition, sparkling your individual outfits, stitching, crocheting/knitting, and needed driving force's education between different issues)?