posted on May 28, 2001 05:21:12 PM new
This post is a simple thanks and recognition to the tens of thousands of people who quietly and unselfishley donate their time, energy and sometimes money to making our communities better places.
They are called Volunteers.
You can find them everywhere.
Local schools,
Hospitals,
Sporting Events,
Emergency Services,
Charitable Organistions,
Conservation Programmes,
Social Services.
The list goes on and on. Most times we never think of them or don't even notice them.
One thing's for sure though, without them our communities would be much the poorer.
So to anyone out there, who volunteers their time and effort in any way, THANK YOU
posted on May 28, 2001 05:35:53 PM new
You are very welcome. Sorry I just could not help myself.
Yes I think we owe a big debt of gratitude to all those people who give of themselves to generously without much thanks. I remember many times the red cross workers in the Childrens Hospital, they are always at hand and when a parent has to take a minute out for themselves these people are there to sit with your child and read to them or give them a hug ect. So Thank you.
posted on May 28, 2001 07:48:42 PM new
I believe that we should have more well qualified, paid employees rather
than poorly trained volunteers.
For example, I visited a school recently and a volunteer teachers aide was
teaching half the class while a qualified teacher was teaching the other half. The volunteer was clearly unqualified, having difficulty reading a book to a group of kindergarten students.
I believe that reliance on volunteers is unfortunately reducing the
quality of service in several of the categories that you listed such as schools, Hospitals, Emergency Services, Conservation and Social Services.
So, I really do not appreciate the unpaid and unskilled labor that is encouraged by the use of volunteers.
posted on May 28, 2001 08:01:15 PM new
Perhaps that unqualified volunteer reading to the children was doing it because they love kids? Volunteers do it because they love to help. I see nothing wrong with that and think they should be honored for doing it without pay, qualified or not.
posted on May 28, 2001 08:08:39 PM new
But, what we are looking for is education,
not love. It seems to me that we can find qualified teachers who also care about children.
posted on May 28, 2001 08:19:45 PM new
Love and education can go hand in hand, can it not? Children are educated by someone reading a story lovingly, enjoying in the telling of it. Children can be loved by a volunteer on the playground, when they fall off the see saw and need to cry from the skinned knee. Education is important, and so is many things, but volunteers still do it for love of giving. Thats a good thing in my book. Regardless.
I understand how you feel, but I believe that all teachers should be educated and this one was not. Teachers, especially, should have to qualify for their job.
An added bonus is that it will create a good job opportunity for someone.
posted on May 28, 2001 09:39:16 PM new
Volunteers are ususally parents, grandparents or other family members.
Many studies have shown that when family members are in a school in any capacity --it not only lets the children see that school is IMPORTANT enough for a grown-up other than a paid employee takes the time to be involved---but it shows family members that they are also an important component in the child's education.
Here is called Education Partnership--and the three pieces to it are Students...Staff....Family.
posted on May 28, 2001 09:39:42 PM newBut instead,there was only one teacher and one unqualified volunteer
But how do you know this, Helen. For example, my next door neighbor volunteers at a local elementary school. She also tutors struggling children, including my daughter. She is a retired schoolteacher and taught for over 35 years. I would not say she is an unqualified volunteer.
In addition, she is a docent at a large municipal museum. A docent is an unpaid volunteer job. She spends one day a week giving informational tours to the public and school children. She had to pass a test in order to become a docent, and she had to STUDY and be knowlegeable in various aspects of art history in order to be a docent volunteer for the museum.
In addition she teaches confirmation catechism one night a week at a local parochial school. She volunteers to do this job. She had study the material required and be fully knowledgeable about the religious instruction required for the Sacrament. Pretty good for a convert to Catholicism, don't you think?
Helen, I'm very fond of you, but sometimes you make a mountain out of a molehill.
That is a great idea, although most parents in my neighborhood are working during the school day.
I am more concerned about a full time job that is being filled by a volunteer...not just an occasional helper or playground aide.
KatyD
Sometimes, I'm bored.
Actually, I feel very strongly about this. I understand that there are well qualified volunteers working...sometimes more qualified than paid employees. But, there is also a significant number of volunteers filling jobs that are not qualified.
It seems to me that setting a qualification standard is important in a teaching job and in many other
jobs that are handled by volunteers.
posted on May 28, 2001 10:00:57 PM new
Well, here the school unions are quite strong and there is no way they can plug in a volunteer where a paid employee should be-----but there is also no way that the Union can keep family members out of the classroom.
Volunteering in a school doesn't always mean doing it during school hours---lots of things happen in the evening, weekends etc. Mentoring etc.
