Should Parents be Required to Volunteer at School?
Categories: Education
One of the benefits of working from home is having a flexible schedule. Not only does this allow me to take care of my personal business during business hours, it gives me the opportunity to volunteer at Ellie's school on a regular basis. This, along with the option of wearing my pajamas all day, is why I chose to drop out of the nine-to-five grind and set up shop in my home. I know how lucky I am to be able to do this because it wasn't always this way. When my now-27-year-old daughter was growing up, I was firmly entrenched in the rat race and rarely set foot in her school during the day. It wasn't that I didn't want to be involved, my work just didn't allow me the freedom to do so. Had she attended a school like this one in Indianapolis, my inability to volunteer at her school likely would have resulted in her getting kicked out.
Indianapolis Public School 57 not only recognizes the value of parental involvement in education, they mandate it. It is a fundamental school, which sounds a bit like a charter school -- meaning they receive public money and follow the standard curriculum, but can make up their own rules about certain things. Among their rules: parents must sign their children's homework every day, must volunteer at the school, and must respond to teachers' calls or notes within 24 hours. Failure to abide by these rules can result in the child being kicked out of school.
While some students attend this school because they live within its boundaries and are automatically assigned there, there are other schools they can be transferred to. And some of them have -- by choice or by force.
Other than the required volunteering, the rules sound like things parents should be doing anyway. But penalizing a student because their parent's schedule does not allow them to volunteer seems unfair. What do you think?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mihir 12-03-2008 @ 1:16PM
"required volunteering" is an oxymoron.
besides, do you want someone volunteering that doesn't really even want to be there?
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Melissa 12-03-2008 @ 2:01PM
I would LOVE to be at every single thing my daughter has at her school, I would love to volunteer at the Thanksgiving feast, the Christmas party, the Valentine's Day parade, whatever....but I work a full time job and I am the office manager and the only one there (besides my boss) so it's very hard for me to get away on certain days (i.e.: days when I have a full schedule of patients), so to "require" (Mihir is right, it IS an oxymoron) me to volunteer (can't my mom do it? she's retired) and kick my daughter out of school is just wrong....how is it her fault that I can't get away from work? It's about education, everyone, kicking them out of school does nothing! This is why I don't believe in suspension....all the child learns is that they did something wrong, and they got to stay home and watch t.v. all day! That's another article though, lol....
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SKL 12-03-2008 @ 2:39PM
It depends. If the parents chose this school knowing this rule, they have an obligation to follow it. If it's unfair to children to kick them out, the fault is on the parents who chose to put them in a situation that was inappropriate for that family.
The article above says that some kids are simply zoned into this school. I'm not sure exactly how it works that some kids are zoned in and others choose the school, but if it wasn't a conscious choice by the parents to accept the requirements up front, then it's wrong to kick the kids out for the parents' lack of involvement.
Are we sure there are no volunteer options that can be satisfied outside of working hours? My mom always had a job but was able to bake cupcakes and such in the evenings. I'd be surprised if there are no options for off-hour volunteering for working parents in this day and age.
I agree with Mihir that this isn't really "volunteering" we're talking about. That said, I see nothing wrong with a school and parents agreeing up front on various types of parental involvement. Personally I probably would opt out of such a school in favor of one that fosters the development of independence.
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Momma 12-03-2008 @ 4:02PM
That is what gets me about working Moms..."I can't becasue I work", blah blah blah. There ARE after school projects that working moms can take home, they just need to ask and be proactive in finding them.
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ame s 12-03-2008 @ 4:51PM
The school sounds like one that is called a "Magnet School" in my West TN town. Some children are zoned to attend these schools, other children sit on waiting lists and a "lottery" drawing is held before the start of each school year. Despite them being located in "undesirable" parts of town, many parents here jump at the chance because they have better programs than most of the other public schools.
The volunteer rule isn't necessarily fair, but all parents know of the rule. If a parent isn't willing or able to abide by the rule, there are surely other parents waiting in line to send their children there.
Life isn't fair,remember? All of us at some time or another, even as children, are penalized for something that is not our fault. I believe that is called "Too Bad" and "Live With It", sadly.
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thegoddessanna 12-03-2008 @ 5:27PM
I'd love to volunteer at my daughter's school, but I'm not really allowed. I have 3yo twins, and since I cannot afford care for them I stay at home with them during the day (my husband lives and works out of state). My daughter's school does not allow parent volunteers to bring in younger siblings, and the only at-home activity they have is baking for one bake sale. That's not exactly what I'd call a volunteer activity, especially since very few of the parents bake anyway.
In my case, it'd be easier if I was a working mother, because I wouldn't have to worry about what to do with my other two children... obviously, they'd have a caregiver, and my chosen profession is quite flexable (massage therapy).
I feel bad for the kids zoned into this school - they'll be punished if their parents do not comply with compulsary volunteerism.
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Karen 12-03-2008 @ 7:00PM
I find it unlikely that the ONLY volunteer opportunity at a school is baking.
I have worked in two schools require volunteering and some of the parents complained, but they really didn't want to be proactive in finding things to do.
There were always things that could be done...scissor work, other paper work that can be done at home, bringing in drinks for sports activities, (for people that would rather spend money than time) etc.
The problem is the parents need to be proactive with the school and the teacher and let them know their limitations and I (almost) guarantee you they will work with you.
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Karen 12-03-2008 @ 7:22PM
OK, first, can we ratchet back on the hate for working parents? I spend 2 hrs a day commuting, 7-9 hrs working, then come home just in time for a late dinner and to put the kid in bed, at which point I've been going nonstop for 14 hours. I'm not baking frickin' cupcakes at 10 pm. And one of the big reasons I don't want to volunteer is because I'd have to deal with people who talked about what I *have* to do and use words like "proactive." Schools can figure out how to force parents to volunteer, but they can't figure out how to teach kids math. AWESOME.
Back when I was in school, it was the KIDS who got to do mindless crap like "scissor work." Why is it now my job? And I suspect it would be even worse for parents with multiple children, like thegoddessanna, than it is for working parents. And finally, if I'd rather spend my only free time -- the weekend -- with my child and our family than handing out orange drink at some PTA function, that should be my choice as a parent.
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adrianablandford 12-04-2008 @ 11:33PM
Good post, Karen, I couldn't have said it better.
I work full time, and my husband is a traveling consultant, gone Monday - Friday. As it is, taking time off work for doctors appointments for me and the kids eats up all the personal and sick time off from work. Now that I work, I rarely even eat lunch.
I manage to volunteer when I can, but it is not often. I used to stay home, and there was plenty of time to volunteer. I'm sure most have volunteered at some time or another, but it is difficult for all people to be able to volunteer on a regular basis for all of a child's school life. The required volunteer is flat out wrong for a publicly funded school.
Tom L 12-03-2008 @ 10:27PM
Many teachers are just natural fascists.
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Tom L 12-03-2008 @ 10:28PM
Read the Constitution where "involuntarry servituide" is prohibited. No matter how noble the end, this school is practicing slavery. They children are required to go to school, then this makes the parents obligated to work? I don't think so.
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