East Valley High School
Spokane, Washington
550 students participated
Poll Analysis - Pre-selected options
Personal Intangible Wishes
1st = good feeling 2nd = worthwhile use of time 2nd = fun
7th (tie) = role model 6th = putting own values into practice
Personal Tangible Wishes
1st = apprenticeships 2nd = class credits 3rd = mentors
11th = TV coverage 10th = published
Wishes for the Community
1st = auditorium, skate park etc. 2nd = computers etc.
5th = inexpensive and good childcare 4th = library upgrades
Reasons for NOT Volunteering
1st = no time 2nd = need money 3rd = not know where or what to do
14th = parents not approve 13th (tie) = uncool 12th = need
transportation
Volunteer 5 hours a week
During school year?
Yes = 371 No = 99 (37 of the 99 will volunteer during summer)
During summer?
Yes = 354
Currently volunteer?
Yes = 139
Poll Analysis - Hand Written Comments
Random Sampling
(less than 1% of responses represented here)
Trades
"Basketball tournaments."
"Funding for senioir citizen dances; new bats and balls for softball and a bus to get to community activities."
"My opinions to be heard."
"You could have prizes at the end (the more work you do, the better
the prize). Food at the end of doing hard work. Transportation to and from."
Volunteers
"I have volunteered at the Food Bank, Special Olympics and babysat for schools. I've
also distributed gifts."
"At my high school, we have a program called S.O.C.S. (Student Oriented Community Service). I am currently in this program and I plan to go for my last three years of high school. I have handed water to runners during the Rabbit-Rabbit-Run and donated five hours on a Saturday to sort at the Food Bank. I am also in a club called Strolling Strings. We play for groups for free. I have also donated clothing and a total of 35 hours to my community in the last eight months."
"I volunteer for S.O.C.S. and it is a lot of fun if it is organized and runs smoothly."
[Volunteers a lot.] "It is really fun and makes you feel good. The only reward we need is the people's gratitude of what you have done for them."
Unsolicited Comments
"My personal opinion about Another Way is I think it will work out. I think it would
work because it would give us teenagers something to do besides sit on our ____ all summer
long."
"I think this would be a great idea for all schools and teens. It would help teens get jobs and have more skills to get better jobs. I don't think this should be required because it should be a choice. This is a great idea. I would be willing to give ten hours a week to make a differenceóto help peopleóto give back. I have volunteered, but I didn't like it. It was boring and I saw no reason for me to have been there. If I were to do this I would like to have someting to do. Great idea. Thanks!"
"I think teens would do this because if you volunteer you will get something back for yourself or for your school. I like it because you can learn new stuff to help you in a job in the future."
"I think this would be a good new way of thinking if it is available to all teenagers and we can [easily] find out how to get involved."
"I never have time for anything, and neither do a whole lot of other teenagers, with jobs and school etc. But I think it's a pretty good program and I'm sure someone will volunteer."