Ed. Week post (catch up #4)

In the Ed. Week December 8th issue the article, “Volunteers Are Ready—All Schools Need to Do Is Ask”, Mr. Tully suggests that there is a plethora of volunteers just waiting and ready to be asked. I beg to differ. Although the story was heartwarming I believe that this was an unusual case. I have seen this first hand in the schools in Corvallis. You will see a lot more volunteers in the higher socio-economic districts but it is hard to get parent or otherwise volunteers in the lower socio-economic areas. Having said that, I could not say if they have tried to call on businesses or churches etc. but I can’t imagine this not being done. The author wrote that “Retirees, alumni, parents who may or may not have students in the schools and a long list of others—understand the issues facing struggling schools and are looking for more ways to get involved”. Again, I disagree. If people really truly understood and wanted to help then they would pass the necessary measures that would increase education budgets instead of decrease them. My feeling is that most people feel that once their children are out of the school system, or if their children go to a private school, or if they have never had children in schools, then they do not want to “pour” money into the educational system. Just my opinion.