Do you think public schools should mandate parent volunteering?

1. 79

   barbergirl28posted 13 years ago

   Do you think public schools should mandate parent volunteering?
   
   I recently came across an article from a bitter stay at home mom who resented others who were unable to volunteer like she was? As a parent, working or not, do you think it is fair to mandate volunteer work at a school? They were suggesting 30 mandatory hours a year. And how do you feel about volunteering at school?

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2. 68

   Sangay Glassposted 13 years ago

   Mandating is not volunteering, and many people will resent being forced to make time for school activities. I certainly wouldn't want some angry, resentful parent watching or presiding over activities around my child or teen.
   
   While I can understand the stay-at-home mom's annoyance, she needs to remember no one is forcing her to take on more than she will allow. However, that's another issue about taking on excessive workloads  because you can't say no for one reason or another.
   
   As far as parents volunteering in the school, there are many benefits. It shows your child and your child's teachers that you are interested in the school community. It makes you more aware of the school environment. Involved parents have a greater voice when it comes to making changes to the school environment on issues such as bullying, programs, and  services. So being active in the school never for naught.
   
   If possible do what you can. But no one should feel guilty or pressured about not being able give more under any circumstance.

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3. 59

   nightwork4posted 13 years ago

   no i don't. there are many parents out there that i wouldn't want anywhere near my kids. i volunteer at my youngest kids school for driving, setting up things for plays and building things but i'm glad it is only volunteer work.

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4. 61

   Lisa HWposted 13 years ago

   I did volunteer from time to time when my kids were little, and I was happy to do it.  I couldn't be at the school all the time (the way some mothers were) because I had three children, all spaced far apart (which meant I usually had a younger child or two and couldn't spend too much time regularly at the school).  I was more than involved in my own children's education and, in fact, in supplementing (from home) the things I thought the school wasn't offering them.
   
   I would never have wanted "every Tom, Dick, and Harry parent" around my children's school, so I was glad they weren't.
   
   Do I think it's "fair" to mandate so-called "volunteering" for every parent?  If it's for every parent then it's fair, I guess.  I think, though, it's ignorant, stupid, misguided, neglectful on the part of the school, and generally over-stepping bounds.

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5. 69

   onegoodwomanposted 13 years ago

   mandate................require
   
   volunteer........to give freely
   
   
   I first see a gross misunderstanding of terms. 
   Any layman should see these.
   
   Give freely of have taken from................

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6. 46

   Horatio32posted 13 years ago

   I dont think they should mandate either but instead mandate a process of indentured servitude in exchange for free meals.

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7. 65

   plkshooterposted 13 years ago

   definetly not, parents have busy lives and it would be unconstitutional. Volunteering is not volunteering if you do not do it willingly. Schools get all the money they need from taxes and should use that money and not exploit parents for free labor.

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8. 61

   Ken Bartonposted 13 years ago

   Personally, I don't think the school should be able to mandate anything like this.  Parents have enough to do with providing for their families, helping their kids with home work, and in general raising their family.

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9. 60

   dtchosenposted 13 years ago

   If its mandated then its no longer volunteering, so no..

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10. 94

    cat on a soapboxposted 13 years ago

    No. I don't see how public schools could mandate parental volunteering. They should certainly encourage it and perhaps recognize and honor those that really put in a lot of hours with a special luncheon or awards dinner.

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11. 0

    nuc99705posted 13 years ago

    Sounds like a contradiction in terms.  Sounds like the army too, " I need two volunteers, you  and you!"

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12. 77

    arbposted 13 years ago

    Once its mandated it's no longer volunteered! Of course voluteering is a good thing. Thats what makes it good, but then, government has a way of taking what is good and trying to make it better. It has never occured to them that you can not improve on what is already good. Who ever describes something as " better good?" Leave good alone and work on something bad!

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13. 59

    oldhorseposted 13 years ago

    Mandated volunteering sounds like an oxymoron to me.  If it is mandated, it isn't volunteering is it?
    
    It would be nice, if everyone pitched in, but people have differing situations and inclinations.

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14. 0

    Mr Tindleposted 13 years ago

    First off, it's hard to see how it would be possible. Some parents live in other states (if divorced or other reasons). Some travel allot and have unusual schedules due to work. In an ideal world parents would be very involved with their child's education, but realistically there will always be situations were it is not always possible. Also the derived benefits from parents assisting the agenda and mission of the school (volunteer or forced) is an assumption. Who says the school is moving in the right direction or has the best plan to educate the kids in their program. More help for the wrong mission could just make things worse.

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15. 61

    wingedcentaurposted 13 years ago

    Parents these days are too busy working two jobs each, as well as running their households, to do volunteer work. Also, we have a tendency in this country, the United States, to not view managing the household and raising the children (whether its the woman, who is overwhemingly primarily responsible most of the time, or a stay-at-home dad) as work. Of course it is work!! Very hard work at that!!!
    
    Furthermore, I find the thrust of this article you mention ironic. State governments (whatever their justification) all over the United States, are laying off teachers and teachers assistants, and thereby creating bigger classes. Now, these reductions create a void, which schools find themselves compelled to try to fill with the solicitation of parents to do volunteer work at the schools.
    
    Its an entirely circular process.

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16. 38

    ProProperty.composted 13 years ago

    no way, don't we have enough laws as it is.

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17. 0

    Longhunterposted 13 years ago

    No. They shouldn't have to mandate it. If a parent cares about their kids education, it's something they just do without having to be forced into it by our already hapless school boards.
    
    By the same token, if kids were taught to respect their teachers and teachers earned and demanded respect instead of trying to be every student's "friend", parent involvement would be less necessary.
    
    Corporal punishment needs to be brought back into the schools as well. A healthy fear of a teachers paddle never hurt anyone.

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18. 77

    rhondakimposted 13 years ago

    I'm not a parent, so I can only give an outsider's view...but while I think parent volunteering is great, I feel that it is absolutely ridiculous to mandate that parents get involved (of course it wouldn't be called "volunteering").  The parents may have other demands on their time that are non-negotiable - work, caring for other children and/or a parent, etc.  And besides, even if the parent simply is not interested in volunteering, who is the school to force them?  And do you really want someone there that doesn't want to be?  I would think that resentment would only hurt the activities, not help.

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19. 70

    somethgblueposted 12 years ago

    Well, then they would have to call it something else because then it wouldn't be volunteering, would it?

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