When I left teaching I knew that I would volunteer to help at Erin and Dylan’s primary school. Call it a busman’s holiday but I wanted to help Erin settle at school and I wanted to be part of her education. I wasn’t able to help before because I had Erin at home and it left no opportunity to help at Dylan’s class. However Lee had been a governor for a number of years before his role at his school meant he no longer had the time needed.
I now help a couple of mornings a week, I change books, I listen to children read and I do their word packs with them. I also help out on the odd school trip. This volunteer role has a number of advantages
1. I can see how settled Erin is, which is something I worried about.
2. I have a good understanding of how she is learning and what their topic is.
3. I know her friends
4. I’m giving something back to a school that has served my children well.
Giving something back has always been important to me. I was a volunteer youth worker for many years which I did through my church, this then led me to becoming a trustee of a charity helping disadvantaged and often excluded teenagers. My giving something back to the community started young, I was about 13 when I started leading Sunday School for the pre-schoolers.
It makes me feel good to be doing things for others. I am a people person and everyone knows that I am passionate about education and even more so about young people – tomorrows future.
However I am surprised that there are not more helping at the school. I know working parents and those with younger children would find it really difficult and they may not have any free time to volunteer. However there are also many that could help but don’t. Many local schools are desperate. Funding cuts mean that there are less Teaching Assistants available to read with children. All parents want their children to be successful – yet therefore it is surprising that more don’t offer. It maybe because of CRB checks and people think it is a hassle but it really isn’t. It is a very quick form and the school will sort the rest.
I hear parents at the school gates that are quick to criticise and moan but I want to turn that on it’s head and ask what can YOU do to help? As I said those with little ones or that work I realise you can’t help just now but to those others ???
See this post as a call to action – what do you do for your community?
People moan that they don’t know their neighbours and that there is no community spirit anymore. There is but maybe you are not looking in the right places and maybe you are not thinking about what you have to offer.
I also want to publically thank those in my local community that do give back. To the scout leaders, the football coaches, the classroom helpers and the many like you. Thank you.
16 Responses
Its certainly something I plan to do once my youngest is in school – at the moment it’s just not practical x
I know that a lot of people do not offer as they do not feel confident in their own abilities. I do lots for the school, but I do not go in and read with the kids. My husband did football coaching and all that got him was an earful from ungrateful parents on a regular basis who could either do better or saw it as a babysitting service. It was a real eye opener for us. He invested his time and money in becoming qualified by the FA and did it for two years before he finally gave it up and we decided to concentrate on helping our own kids as they were losing out. Perhaps we should not concentrate on people giving back, but the other people being thankful and more understanding.
That is a very valid point Jen and one I hadn’t considered. I guess because I am so familiar with schools and education that I forget others are not.I think thats terrible how your husband was made to feel. i am so grateful for those that give up their time for running clubs etc.
I am a governor at a primary school, but not my son’s school. I was doing it before I had him (so a good long while now), but I’ve been thinking of giving it up and maybe doing something at my son’s school instead. Not sure whether I can commit regularly enough though.
I would love to help out at my son’s school, however, having one, soon to be two, young children at home it is just not possible. Once all my children are at school I would definitely volunteer my free time.
I’m the only parent on the PTA board, parents have come and gone over the past few years none of them seem to stick around very long. I’m also the chair for my daughter’s Cub Scout group. I believe in giving back and help whichever way I can.
I always think that volunteers get as much out of volunteering as the people that they’re helping. I helped at my kids’ Primary schools and now that they’re both at Secondary school I’m going for an interview for another volunteering role next month.
I think people do have busy lives and although some are confident socially and in their knowledge of the education system some are not. Also sometimes if parents had a difficult time in school they are less likely to help out.
I think this is a great post and I’m impressed that you volunteer at school. However I feel disappointed that our education system is being forced to rely on parent volunteers when surely there should be enough money in the system to fund paid teaching assistant posts? I work full time so my husband can be a stay at home dad to our two kids, one of whom is still in pre-school. I think when my younger daughter is older he may well look into working in the school but I think he will probably go down the teaching assistant route. I think for many single income families volunteering is a luxury. By the time we are in a position to do it our kids probably won’t be in school anymore.
I loved volunteering when my older two were at first school, really got to know more about the school and how it worked, and got to see how happy the kids were there. I will definitely be doing it again when Syd goes in September!
I run the school PFA and am considering becoming a governor, however I may wait until Sebby is at school as its very time consuming
I don’t volunteer as I don’t know if I can cope. I was “signed off” employment two and a bit years ago, my own doctor called me unemployable due to mental health problems.
I have a younger child so find it more difficult but all of last year I went in every week to change the books and I always offer to go on trips if younger siblings can go along too.
so good for you to volunteer at school. it must be nice seeing erin
we are not part of this world yet as we still have a couple of years until school but I remember my dad always coming on school trips with us, it was lovely x
I can’t wait to get involved actively in my son’s edcation and help out once he starts school. I already try to help at forest school at his pre-school and can certainly see the advantages of it. x