Salem High School Participates In Multi-State Poll
Students at Salem 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 Salem students compared to the 21 state average and to each of the other 33 schools."
A few atypical trades suggested by Salem students:
"Knowing I'll have something to do and I'm helping someone."
"I would like my picture in the newspaper."
"Local recognition, scholarships and a computer."
"A better community, more respect from older people and more social opportunities."
Salem students comment on personal volunteer experiences
"I teach two karate classes a week, without pay, to small children. I also volunteer for various community groups."
"I run errands for busy workers and the homebound, perform bookkeeping tasks, set up appointments, decorate and plan parties and meetings."
"I file and do garden work at the Nature Bonebrake Center. I also tutor students with learning disabilities at school."
"I do volunteer work on my own time as well as through National Honor Society. I tutor other students, work at the local soup kitchen and campaign for things that involve schools and the entire community. I also help parents with Project Graduation."
"I volunteer for NHS and this summer I volunteered at Salem Chamber of Commerce."
"At my church the young people cook dinners for the members. I love getting the thank yous. They ask why we do it, and we say it's a gift from us to you."
"Through the school I organize and participate in car washes, bake sales and toy/food drives. We have an annual blood drive and visit senior citizens at Christmas and pass out cookies and sing. I volunteer with the National Honor Society at the soup kitchen, tutor grade school children and clean/decorate/serve food at the Bonebrake Center. I also have an after school job at a local pharmacy."
"I volunteer through the Pards/Recreation Department of our town."
"My church group, the Columbus Girls, does volunteer work a lot. All of us help."
The Foundation's latest project addresses the obstacles raised by A couple Salem students
"Who wants to waste time trying to help other people nowadays?"
"Just plain lazy! I know that's why most people don't volunteer."
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."