Bondurant High School Participates In Multi-State Poll
Students at Bondurant 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 Bondurant students compared to the 21 state average and to each of the other 33 schools."
Atypical trades suggested by Bondurant students
"After completing so many hours of work, you could exchange for some kind of prize, like a TV. The more hours you work the larger the prize."
Modest trades: "Childcare = picture of the children; clean houses = supplies; cook = food & utensils."
"Plant trees = for nothing; baby-sit = for fun."
"A nice thanks. Maybe some food coupons, like a free Big Mac; name in a paper or newsletter."
"A T-shirt with special wording."
"In my town I would like nothing as long as it was recognized that I helped the community. I don't believe you should reward everyone for helping; it's a choice."
"I wouldn't volunteer for awards or material things, but I would if I believed in the cause or if it were fun."
"I think material trades take away from the beauty of helping."
"If it were fun and exiting, that would be enough of a trade."
"I would be a candy striper at a hospital in the children/babies
ward. In return I would like a health care from that hospital."
Bondurant students comment on personal volunteer experiences
"I belong to a 4-H group that spends one Saturday each month visiting a nursing home and doing crafts with older people."
"I have planted trees, bushes and flowers; painted a house and cleaned up the yard. This was a home restoration project for a neighbor who was an older lady who could not afford to have the work done."
"I volunteer at a nursing home, reading and keeping company with cancer patients. Some people would find it depressing. I think the main reason people don't volunteer is simply because we're not made knowledgeable about opportunities to do this. Schools should have a bulletin board for volunteer opportunities and places that need volunteers should send letters with a phone number to call."
"I put up signs during a local election."
"I tutor during school for special-ed people and enjoy it immensely."
"I volunteer on a homeless breakfast mobile. I serve hot food to homeless people and people who live in shelters."
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."