Wallace High School Participates In Multi-State Poll
Students at Wallace 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 Wallace students compared to the 21 state average and to each of the other 33 schools."
A few atypical trades suggested by Wallace students:
"Being challenged to do something for my community."
"Food while working."
"Lots of chocolate."
"Replace the trees that were logged around our town, a minor league sports team and an always-open place for residents to play sports."
"Dance/recreation center, recognition and a job."
"I think we should open up the school computer to all high school students who want to learn more on weekends; a better youth center or something that's fun for us to learn at school."
"I would like to earn maybe a car or truck and a college grant."
"I would want myself and a group of volunteers to be able to go on a field trip to anywhere we want."
"I would like to spend time collecting food for anyone with low income. To see them happy would be adequate trade."
"A trip each yearónothing exoticómaybe Seattle or Portland; plaques to the top three workers; a YMCA-type organization."
A desire for a teen "hangout" was voiced over and over: "A chance to help to make something for the teenagers to do. Roller skating rink, arcade, pizza parlor, a mall for something for kids to do; an Alcoholics Anonymous Club (not group) like the Alano Club in Helena, Montana.. [Since there is little to do in Wallace,] we have a lot of drug addicts and alcoholics starting at very young ages. I myself am a recovering alcoholic who, when I moved back here from Helena, Montana, relapsed after four months of sobriety because there is a very poor Alcoholics Anonymous group here. (I'm only 15 years old!)"
Wallace students comment on personal volunteer experiences
"I volunteer at the hospital, day care and the nursing home."
"Shoveling walks and driveways and mowing lawns for the elderly, and baby-sitting for younger people for free."
"I volunteered at the county hospital."
"I volunteer to do a variety of things at the public library."
"I volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, Search & Rescue as well as the local Fire Department."
"I volunteer at the Good Sam in Silverton. I help in the kitchen when they have banquets. I also talk with residents when they need someone to talk to."
"In the summer I teach Scholar Bowl for Upward Bound. This class helps students get ready for academic competition. I also donate time to a local house that conducts tours during the Halloween and Christmas seasons."
"I have volunteered at a local hospital in the extended care center, at our public library, filled luminaries for winter walk, helped cleaned the pool after it had been sand blasted, participated in school clean ups in general , helped with children's activities during hospital open house and I've helped an elementary school teacher. I do whatever I am asked to do. Currently I am working on a Scout Gold Award project to provide free computer classes to adults in my community. I was planning a community center, but didn't have the resources for this."
"I volunteer as a Special Olympics ski coach. I go up on the mountain every Saturday and coach for eight hours."
"I like kids and work well with them. I also like to help other people. I would like to learn how to do a variety of things and I could do that by volunteering and possibly some day find a job with less trouble."
"I laid sod for the school field."
"I shovel walks for the elderly in the winter."
"I do odd things around town like shovel snow and sell concessions. I do a variety of things at the public library. Once I organized and ran a special Halloween party for little kids."
"I donate time to the Shoshone County Sheriffs Department; wash cars, ride with them and do whatever they need me to do."
The Foundation's latest project addresses the obstacles raised by a few Wallace students:
"I didn't know where to start."
"People are snobby. They say I'm not prepared to do the work I know I'm capable of doing."
"I have not volunteered because I don't know where to and I need money. But I will do work!"
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."