The Parent Volunteer: Parent Volunteering is Not Optional

Have you ever wondered why lots of parents at your son or daughter’s public school do not get involved with school held events, PTA/PTO meetings, or volunteer in the classroom? Your child goes to a school with over 500 children but it always seems like it is only you and a handful of parents that show up at events, volunteer and donate your time and money to help the school achieve a goal.
It is a known fact that parent participation increases a child’s performance in school, raises their self-esteem, improves behavior, increases leadership skills, increases social capabilities and so much more. This list continues on and on. But, the interesting thing here is that none of these things are new to us. We already know the benefits of parent participation in school - but yet we will not participate. Let us not repeat the same mistakes we have made in the past. Today is a new day. We have to move our schools forward. If not us, then who? If not now, then when?
Parent participation is an area that definately needs to be rebranded in our Public School System. In some schools, if you ask a parent to volunteer, they cringe and then respond with a well thought, rehearsed excuse-oh, and by the way, excuses are the things we tell ourselves and other people so that we can feel better about being unproductive. Parents should be honored to volunteer in school. Make yourself available to the PTA/PTO parent group of your school. The sole purpose of the parent group at the school is to make life at school better for your children. Why are you not supporting this group? These people are not perfect. They are parent volunteers who want to see the school and the children in the school (that means your child too), become a success. Help them. Bring your ideas, talents, experiences, education, etc. to this group and strengthen them. Every school needs a strong parent group with ample parent volunteers. The benefits of having a strong parent group is great for the school, students, teachers and the community. One of the biggest concerns I hear from parents is that the volunteering efforts of the parent groups are not organized. In my next blog entry, I will give you some ideas on how to organize your parents' volunteering efforts. Unitl then, Show Love, Give Love, VOLUNTEER.