The Seattle School District's decision to rescind the school closure proposal does not address its financial plight. In fact, it merely defers the inevitable job losses, program and service reductions or other unpalatable resolutions. Consequently, help is needed to mitigate the impact of the impending cuts. One powerful, effective, and cost free solution is volunteerism.
There are a plethora of available volunteer positions in our public schools. Playground supervisor, lunch room monitor, crossing guard, and field trip chaperone are jobs that can relieve the burden of the professional school staff while simultaneously enhancing program and service quality.
By performing such tasks as filing, stapling, pasting, cutting, or photocopying, teachers can then more productively utilize their time and skills. Another option is the PTA, which assists with numerous school related functions including fund raising. In my case, I'm a volunteer first-grade reading tutor at my neighborhood elementary school.
Gabriella (not her real name) is a petite seven-year-old girl with shoulder length charcoal-colored hair adorned in frilly pigtails. Dressed in her white blouse and blue bottoms school uniform, Gabriella prances about with an infectious smile and is the embodiment of the happy-go-lucky child.
Because she arrived from Mexico two years ago and Spanish is her first language, Gabriella had entered school academically behind. As a result, her teacher felt one-on-one tutoring would be beneficial.
When we started working together six months ago, Gabriella recognized some letters and a few corresponding sounds. Now, she can quickly and confidently recite all 26 letters and their sounds. Moreover, she recognizes some two-letter blends, writes complete sentences, and reads beginner books! Gabriella's attentiveness and diligence accounted for her rapid progression.
Our relationship is symbiotic. While Gabriella received my academic assistance, I was given the joy of observing a kind and deserving child succeed. Despite our age, gender, and cultural differences, our time together allowed us to share and learn from each other and, most importantly, to become friends.
The benefits of tutoring extend beyond Gabriella and me. The kids remaining in class gain from a lower teacher-to-student ratio. As the class size shrinks, student learning rises and teacher effectiveness and their job satisfaction increases. Furthermore, lower class sizes promote higher test scores, which equates to school success and ultimately better-educated students.
The district's substantial financial crisis is deep-seated. There is no panacea. The solutions will have to be multifaceted. Volunteerism is a readily accessible, yet woefully under-utilized resource that has limitless potential.
The commitments and sacrifices we embed in our public school children today will sow the seeds for the citizenry of tomorrow.
Send a letter to Joe at editor@sdistrictjournal.com.
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