Volunteering opportunities for middle school students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I have no idea. My child said he would volunteer, under the supervision of his chess tutor, to provide free chess lessons to younger kids in the community. National Junior Honor Society rejected this as community service.


That’s bc part of the service hours requirement is identifying a real (authentic) need. See here:

https://www.fcps.edu/activities/service-learning

Has your kid determined that there was a big gap in this and the need was genuine, that’s step one.

Yes, there is likely a glut of free chess tutors dying to give their time to teach little kids who can't afford it, so that's probably the issue.

It’s more whether there are kids who actually need this service in this area, about whom the adult he asks knows about. My kids used to play chess. Unless I knew of kids who needed this OR the chess coach knew of kids who needed this, then there isn’t a known need for it. For whatever reason, he was told no. Doesn’t like it? He needs to move on looking for another chess related opportunity where he is filling a need.

This is no different than any other very specific activity that a kid wants to do. He needs to identify where and how he’ll implement his plan. Otherwise, he’s stuck doing non chess activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The parents who can’t volunteer for whatever reason are usually afraid to send their kids to those events bc they know privileged parents like you and others will gossip about how they never volunteer. Ask me how I know.

Sounds like a great lesson in teaching your child not to let fear hold you back from engaging with your wider community.

But seriously, I’ve been a avid volunteer for a long time and work in a community org and I’ve never heard gossip about a child volunteering, ever. I do think their are parents out there who perhaps aren’t as hospitable to new parent volunteers as they could be, but I don’t think that’s the child’s experience. And when it comes to those less hospitable parents, I think sometimes that was my insecurity rather than their intent. (Moved to a new school in 3rd grade)

SMH. I’m talking about gossip that the kids’ parents never volunteer at school events or whatever.

[Anonymous]

You could have your student also ask front office if they need help or PTA at school if they need help. Most could use help setting up or doing research on vendors for events or helping to drop things off around school etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The parents who can’t volunteer for whatever reason are usually afraid to send their kids to those events bc they know privileged parents like you and others will gossip about how they never volunteer. Ask me how I know.

Sounds like a great lesson in teaching your child not to let fear hold you back from engaging with your wider community.

But seriously, I’ve been a avid volunteer for a long time and work in a community org and I’ve never heard gossip about a child volunteering, ever. I do think their are parents out there who perhaps aren’t as hospitable to new parent volunteers as they could be, but I don’t think that’s the child’s experience. And when it comes to those less hospitable parents, I think sometimes that was my insecurity rather than their intent. (Moved to a new school in 3rd grade)

SMH. I’m talking about gossip that the kids’ parents never volunteer at school events or whatever.

Prior post said they were afraid to have their children volunteer since they don’t and that adults would be judgey. What I am trying to say is that I have never seen a child not welcomed and that fear for their child is probably unwarranted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The parents who can’t volunteer for whatever reason are usually afraid to send their kids to those events bc they know privileged parents like you and others will gossip about how they never volunteer. Ask me how I know.

Sounds like a great lesson in teaching your child not to let fear hold you back from engaging with your wider community.

But seriously, I’ve been a avid volunteer for a long time and work in a community org and I’ve never heard gossip about a child volunteering, ever. I do think their are parents out there who perhaps aren’t as hospitable to new parent volunteers as they could be, but I don’t think that’s the child’s experience. And when it comes to those less hospitable parents, I think sometimes that was my insecurity rather than their intent. (Moved to a new school in 3rd grade)

SMH. I’m talking about gossip that the kids’ parents never volunteer at school events or whatever.

Prior post said they were afraid to have their children volunteer since they don’t and that adults would be judgey. What I am trying to say is that I have never seen a child not welcomed and that fear for their child is probably unwarranted.

I’m the one who wrote that and you completely misinterpreted it. It was not about kids volunteering at all. I said parents may not be sending their kids to all the fun events. A PP before that said I’m sure you send your kids to the fun events but don’t actually volunteer. I said no I don’t do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The parents who can’t volunteer for whatever reason are usually afraid to send their kids to those events bc they know privileged parents like you and others will gossip about how they never volunteer. Ask me how I know.

Sounds like a great lesson in teaching your child not to let fear hold you back from engaging with your wider community.

But seriously, I’ve been a avid volunteer for a long time and work in a community org and I’ve never heard gossip about a child volunteering, ever. I do think their are parents out there who perhaps aren’t as hospitable to new parent volunteers as they could be, but I don’t think that’s the child’s experience. And when it comes to those less hospitable parents, I think sometimes that was my insecurity rather than their intent. (Moved to a new school in 3rd grade)

SMH. I’m talking about gossip that the kids’ parents never volunteer at school events or whatever.

Prior post said they were afraid to have their children volunteer since they don’t and that adults would be judgey. What I am trying to say is that I have never seen a child not welcomed and that fear for their child is probably unwarranted.

No, the prior post said the parents who can’t volunteer. I bolded it for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do they even have this silly requirement in middle school?

Because children learn skills they'll need as adults from it. Kind of like the silly requirement that they read and write and do math.

Oh please. Reading + math are not at the same level as volunteering.

[Anonymous]

Community service is a skill needed for life. If we can’t have empathy and stewardship for our community, we will deteriorate as a civilization. We need to help each other and these smaller opportunities all work towards building our kids’ character and empathy.

I hope each school does a better job in providing school-based opportunities for those unable to secure a volunteer opportunity outside of school location due to needs.

[Anonymous]

This was just posted in Hunter Miller weekly email about Volunteer Fest — at home and in person opportunities.
https://volunteerfairfax.civicore.com/index.php?section=volunteerFest&action=main

[Anonymous]

In this recent thread, there were several good suggestions:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1081034.page

I posted the idea of signing up with the organization that visits senior centers and the tween/teens could visit seniors once a week for about an hour and talk to them, read to them or just interact with them. I did something similar. I worked in a hospital as a volunteer and I remember who much it meant to the seniors who were in the hospital to have a "young person" to talk to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do they even have this silly requirement in middle school?

Because children learn skills they'll need as adults from it. Kind of like the silly requirement that they read and write and do math.

Oh please. Reading + math are not at the same level as volunteering.

Service Learning isn't volunteering. We've established that. It's an opportunity for children to be in an environment where people are working and learn about the world of work. It teaches important skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do they even have this silly requirement in middle school?

Because children learn skills they'll need as adults from it. Kind of like the silly requirement that they read and write and do math.

Oh please. Reading + math are not at the same level as volunteering.

Service Learning isn't volunteering. We've established that. It's an opportunity for children to be in an environment where people are working and learn about the world of work. It teaches important skills.

I don’t think we’ve established that. Service learning can definitely be volunteering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do they even have this silly requirement in middle school?

Because children learn skills they'll need as adults from it. Kind of like the silly requirement that they read and write and do math.

Oh please. Reading + math are not at the same level as volunteering.

Service Learning isn't volunteering. We've established that. It's an opportunity for children to be in an environment where people are working and learn about the world of work. It teaches important skills.

I don’t think we’ve established that. Service learning can definitely be volunteering.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve often wondered about adults who never volunteer to give back. Who don’t help with sports, scouts, religious orgs, etc. Now I know, they believe that helping out is virtue signaling and their virtue is all caught up in themselves.

I’m sorry if you object to your children having to volunteer and can’t help direct them to resources or direct some of your free time to volunteering with them, your kid needs service learning the most. Because they’re not learning what it means to be a caring, engaged, and active member of the community from you.

And on behalf of every working, service oriented parent who gets tapped all the time to lead/help/volunteer, I guarantee you’ve enjoyed every fall festival, bingo night, sports team, and scouting event the rest of us have somehow found time to contribute to. Please stop teaching your children to freeload. It takes everyone doing their part for us all to have nice things. I’m glad school is teaching them if you are not.

You are so privileged it’s disgusting.

+ 1. The majority of the parents who virtue signal through "volunteering" are class-A assh*les. Anecdotal of course, but I've seen many. And their kids are peaches as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do they even have this silly requirement in middle school?

Because children learn skills they'll need as adults from it. Kind of like the silly requirement that they read and write and do math.

Oh please. Reading + math are not at the same level as volunteering.

Service Learning isn't volunteering. We've established that. It's an opportunity for children to be in an environment where people are working and learn about the world of work. It teaches important skills.

You've established squat. If the emphasis is on learning, the MS should arrange for it and deal with it. Why trouble the parents?