Big Springs High School Participates In Multi-State
Poll
Students at Big Spring High School were among 2,000 students in 21 states who, in the spring of 1997, participated in a poll which asked them to rank pre-selected options as more or less desirable exchanges for volunteer services. Money was not an option. Detailed results and an analysis of that poll may be viewed on the home page of the Harry Singer Foundation, the poll's sponsor, at www.singerfoundation.org/main/announcements/polls. For printed copies, call the Foundation office in Carmel, California 408-625-4223.
After years of working with high school students across the nation, the Harry Singer Foundation was convinced that their energy and goodwill was an untapped resource. "Many adults did not believe us when we suggested that the oldest and youngest generations, instead of being problems, were the solution to many of our social ills. So we decided the best way to persuade the skeptics was to have these groups speak for themselves." said Margaret Bohannon-Kaplan, director of the national 501(c) 3 Harry Singer Foundation. "We reasoned that polling young people and retired people would determine (1)the amount of time they might be willing to volunteer, (2) their experience (already acquired abilities), (3) their eagerness to learn (or teach), (4) the return expected and (5) the incentives and disincentives, as they view them.
"When we went back and analyzed what students told us, using their own words, we noted a discrepancy between those comments and the answers that required them to prioritize pre-selected choices," said Director Bohannon-Kaplan. "The most popular handwritten trade suggestion was a desire for coupons for free or discounted merchandise, activities or services. Some form of recognition was a clear second choice followed by the intangibles such as a good feeling, desire to make a difference and a variety of altruistic declarations. Sharing fourth place were things to upgrade schools, scholarships and things that benefit the community at large. Teen hang-outs, school credit, a car or some form of transportation and group celebrations came in fifth.
"When students were prompted to mark pre-selected choices, coupons, the number one write-in, dropped to the fourth spot, trailing apprenticeships, class credits and mentors. On the Foundation web site, the write in comments are divided into 21 categories. Recognition, second out of the 21 write-in categories, was a clear loser when given as a pre-selected option. Visit our web site to see how the answers of Big Spring students compared to the 21 state average and to each of the other 33 schools."
Atypical trades suggested by Big Spring students
"Community support of school activities."
"I would like food, lunch for my hard work. Dirty clothes always make me feel like I did a good job." "Free lunch on the day of the event."
"Donations to the public libraryóone hour per book."
"If I work for the community, I think they should try to do something to make our school's appearance better."
"A way to work off traffic tickets."
"Teach me a skill I can use in the future."
"To have insurance just in case I would happen to get hurt."
"Make the curfew later."
Big Spring students comment on personal volunteer experiences
"I really want to be a Big Sister, but you have to be 18."
"I help volunteer with my gifted teacher and environmental club advisory in areas where he needs help. Two examples are reading and acting out stories in front of elementary kids and cleaning up the Big Spring."
"Currently I am not a volunteer, but will be soon with the local Head Start preschool center. I will be focusing on teaching them about health and nutrition."
"I visit with older people who are residents at the nursing center. We play games and go for walks, do crafts and just talk."
"I currently volunteer once a week at Legal Services Inc. in Carlisle Pennsylvania. At Legal Services I work as an aide answering phones, typing, filing, and doing client intakes. Legal Services, offers legal counsel to those below a set poverty level. This experience has really broadened my horizons and I have seen the help one person can give to many."
"I worked for Habitat for Humanity."
"Tutor at local elementary school."
"Tried to volunteer at a hospital."
"I do volunteer work at the Bosler Library. I stock shelves and help in the children's department."
"I volunteer at a nursing home."
"Current;y I help out the Youth Group by baby-sitting, decorating, cleaning and mowing lawns, planting flowers, cleaning up garbage etc."
"I am an Eagle Scout. I did my own community service project. I did a township-wide roads survey. I measured roads, got the surface and put down special features."
The Foundation's latest project addresses the obstacles raised by one Big Spring' student:
"The only reason for me not to volunteer is I don't feel qualified and I don't know what needs to be done and where to find out."
Bohannon-Kaplan explained the reasoning behind the polls: "The poll is the first
step in launching Another Way, a nationwide project which overcomes obstacles and
provides incentive for volunteers of all ages while giving donors more social benefit for
their dollars. Polling the residents in neighborhoods determines the most pressing social
problems and suggests reality-based solutions. Compiling the wish lists of operating
public and private nonprofits enables these organizations to focus more fully on their
missions by taking advantage of the previously untapped community resources uncovered by
the earlier polling. Using the information obtained from these school-community-based
learning exercises, enables individual and institutional grant makers to target their
social investments so that the community receives more benefit. Another Way is not
a program; it is a coordination and communication system using the latest
technology."