Interesting request in the newsletter about wanting volunteers for the AR progam. It is interesting for a number of ways...
1. We had a vibrant, well staffed volunteer program for the AR kids. There was this belief that the kids needed a bit of help and/or encouragement to get on and take the tests, especially the younger ones. Someone apparently didn't agree, and ended it...and the kids (of all ages) are now taking a lot less advantage of the AR program. Who would figure?
2. The second comment was about signing a waiver....again, this was something that was suggested to Denise, who snorted her disaproval at teachers and parents who had the teremity to suggest such a thing. And yet, it is now back.
3. Finally, one can volunteer for this...as long as you sign the form (not a bad thing, but certainly not an orginal idea), work with another class other than your kid's, and agree to shield your eyes if you happen to accidentally see your child in passing.
Okay, I made the last point up, but it may be EXACTLY why there are so volunteers this year. It is not from a lack of opportunities, but it is a lack of opportunities that people want to do. When you coordinate volunteer work, one has to realize that YOUR needs are not quite enough, and that there has to be something in it for them. Yes, there is the satisfaction of a job well done, but there is in all of us a need for a bit more...that we ARE making a difference, that we can see the results, and that it also sends a message to our kids that volunteering is important. So while they haven't been breaking down the doors to volunteer to fill beer cups for "Smokey", "One-Eye", or "Creepy" at casino night, that doesn't mean that people don't want to help out. It is that they don't want to feel as if they aren't really needed or that go against what they believe.
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The lack of interest in AR this year is a real life example of a large trickle-down effect. Loss of volunteers (and motivation to volunteer) + loss of highly involved librarian + loss of teacher interest because of other 2losses + non-support of AR from administration = a slipping away of a wonderful program. Holy Cross has no idea what a gem they have/had in the AR program. Other schools would drool to see the number of books and quizzes that Holy Cross has at its fingertips. What a WASTE to let this program slip away. With grant money becoming harder and harder to get for such expensive ventures this program should be cherished!
Hmmm....interesting points.
I think there IS much less interest by a lot of people, including myself, in the school this year. I have to rouse myself to keep up the blog, not because I don't have things to write about, but simply because I believe the die has been cast, and this has to play itself out.
Of course, there are less volunteers because of the large number of losses of parents...but that will be another posting.
"Trickle-down effect" is the perfect phrase. For those parents who think it doesn't matter what the administration does or doesn't do are wrong. All of the factors mentioned ultimately affect the students too.
I'm happy to see that the AR program is making a comeback. I think it is such an important tool to encourage the kids to read. One of my kids has openly complained to me about missing AR. I am happy to see it back and hope it stays. I agree with the poster who said AR should be cherished.
Well, let's not get the cart before the horse. My point is that she is asking for extraordinary measures for people to volunteer, and many of the devoted volunteers have moved on to other causes.
It is not easy to build an effective volunteer force, and I speak from experience. This framework, which saw parents volunteering in every type of capacity, took generations to build but was pretty much wiped out in two years.
The volunteer program worked well because it is easier to get people to work in other areas rather than to get them in the door. I am not a big fan of inviting Lucky Louie over to Poker Night as a way to showcase and fund the school, but I suspect I would have been more willing to help in some role a few years ago. It is now easier to justify not helping with things that I find are on the edge of things that we should be doing.
Sorry, Quiz, but I don't think that attending a training session and signing a confidentiality agreement qualify as "extraordinary measures". I understand that getting people to volunteer is quite an effort- been there myself too. But in the case of this particular program, it is critical that the volunteers know what they are doing and that we all take every measure to safeguard the privacy of our students. I for one, want a safe environment for my kids. It is a sad fact that volunteers can be, and often are, responsible for a lot of the gossip that goes around... So, do we need volunteers- absolutely. But more than that, we need mindful and responsible volunteers. I think we have them at Holy Cross. How about you attend the training, sign the agreement, and give it a chance? The program has not even started and it's already being shot down. Tsk, tsk.
You're kidding, right?
First, I don't think anything in my posting indicates that I think they are extraordinary measures. In fact, I think I even said I can understand why they are in place. Other posters may have different opinions, and they seem to be even closer to the situation then I am.
Second...what say you about the fact that they were there, and were banished by Denise, and are now being brought back?
Third...you are kidding about the volunteers, right? I will tell you quite frankly that of the various catagories of people to worry about, parent volunteers, especially those who have been cleared, are waaay down on the list of worries. Not to say one doesn't take reasonable precautions, but no one is faulting her for that, are they?
I think the point is that she did away with AR volunteers and and is now bringing them back with so many stipulations that not many parents would want to participate. You have to wonder; does she really want any parent in the school? She's done this in the past with other activities and then brings them back like they're her own; the Science Fair, ice cream instead of the pizza party for the honor roll, the School Board/Advisory Panel, Tag Days, and now the volunteer AR program - just to name a few.
What parent would be so petty as to gossip about a child's AR score? How ridiculous to think that it would be a topic of discussion.
Of course volunteering in and of itself is a wonderful thing but if you were going to take on such a big committment wouldn't you want to be part of your child's classroom?
If the AR program ever comes back to what is was before it will be because the students miss it. The motivation is gone from the adults thanks to the unpredictable reactions and behaviors of the principal.
Well, Quiz, I quote "Well, let's not get the cart before the horse. My point is that she is asking for extraordinary measures for people to volunteer".
Obviously you don't seek any kind of discouse that presents a different opinion from your own. Yet I stand by my post.
Which is?
Well, if you want to quibble...okay, I think not allowing parents to volunteer for an activity that their children are in IS extraordinary. However, I am willing to listen, and be convinced otherwise. "Extraordinary" is out of the ordinary, so all you have to do to prove me wrong is to provide examples from area schools of similar policies. Should be simple, if this policy is not "extraordinary".
As for discourse...of course I allow it. If I didn't, I'd have deleted your message, correct?
When my kids were at HC it was not volunteers that gossiped as much as it was certain teachers who gossiped to parents who they were friendly with especially if they had their own children in the school. The Asst. Principal was quite a gossip as both teachers and parents had informed me.
Very interesting. Yet, the parents are the ones she's worried about.
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