Why would a child be skipped in the Ceremony of Twelves in the book The Giver if they didn't complete enough volunteer hours?

Answer 1

In The Giver, volunteer hours were the jobs the Eights through Elevens did before they became Twelves. They would find areas they enjoyed volunteering at. The volunteer hours helped the Elder's decide where to assign the children. Quoting from page 28 from The Giver:

"Once, long ago, it was whispered among the children, an Eleven had arrived at the Ceremony of Twelve only to hear a public announcement that he had not completed the required number of volunteer hours and would not, therefore, be given his Assignment. He had been permitted an additional month in which to complete the hours, and then given his Assignment privately, with no applause, no celebration: a disgrace that had clouded his entire future."

This may just be a story to ensure the children complete enough hours or this may have actually happened.

Note: The only known person to be skipped in a ceremony was Jonas. It was assumed to be a mistake, even though the Elder's never make mistakes. It turned out that Jonas was skipped because he was given the special task of being the Receiver.

Answer 2

In the book The Giver, children who haven't completed sufficient volunteer hours may be skipped in the Ceremony of Twelves to receive a assignment. It is considered important for children to contribute to the community through volunteer work as a way of developing a sense of responsibility and duty. Skipping a child in this ceremony serves as a reminder of the value placed on community service in their society.