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 One Solution to Education CutbacksAs schools continue to cut programs and eliminate positions, your church faces an incredible opportunity for service.
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Our local newspaper ran a front page story that examined a local church's financial turmoil. Faced with a steep drop in giving that began years ago, the article detailed how leadership made changes to cope with this crisis in order to keep the doors open and serve those who attend. One of their changes deserves more than glancing consideration. Specifically, the church has eliminated staff positions and covers important tasks with volunteers. Not a groundbreaking strategy, I know. But cut and paste this situation outside the church walls and you'll see a timely opportunity to make a difference in others' lives—an idea worth a second look for any church. To start, consider this prediction: Your state has cut the K-12 education budget and further cuts appear in the budget currently under consideration. Like the church in the news, local administration will need to make changes to cope with these steep drops while keeping doors open and serving the children who attend school. I make no claims to understand the particulars of state and local education budgets. But I do claim to care about the impact on children. More safe predictions: As your local schools deal with budget cuts, services will begin to dwindle and disappear. Support staff positions will face elimination. Class sizes will increase. Programs will go away. Activities will stop—especially as the number of adults serving children decreases. Can you see the opportunity? Your church can provide much-needed, sure-to-be-appreciated volunteer assistance to a school. Imagine the impact of a school, and the community it serves, recognizing your church as a solution to problems. The greatest resource a church can share with a community is love, as delivered through the active involvement of those who attend. "Do people really notice?" you ask. Yes. A church in our community partners with a local elementary school by providing mentors (and prayer partners) for at-risk students—a Kids Hope USA program. In a recent e-mail to the church, the school's principal wrote: "It has been great having so much help. ... I am not sure you are aware that you came along just after our counseling was cut, so you and all of the mentors have really filled a void." While we're on a roll with safe predictions, let's add another: The principal is one of many people in that school and the surrounding community who recognize the value of this church's volunteers. One local church makes local news headlines because of an empty bank account; another church quietly fills a void for the school. Two extremes, no doubt. What about your church? With spring break here and gone, the school year will quickly come to a close. However, the principal will continue working. Specifically, he or she will remain busy planning next year and determining how to deal with all those upcoming budget cuts. Now picture the reaction from that principal to someone helping assemble a list of volunteer roles, and then filling those roles over the months ahead before school begins this fall. Plenty of time now exists for any paperwork or background checks by the school system and orientations to take place, resulting in folks from your church actively filling voids: mentors, library aids, helping teach art/gym/music, playground monitors, room assistants, reading tutors, custodial care—a long list exists. |        
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Gaylan Mathiesen
I don't see this article proposing that let teachers go and replace them with unqualified volunteers. The author is proposing that volunteers fulfill gaps in support roles that make a difference in a child's life. I volunteer weekly as a reading tutor in the school districts adult ed program, and I don't need an education degree and license to do that. Without volunteers, this program would not be able to do as much as it does in helping people get their GED or become naturalized citizens. The same is true for elementary and secondary programs. I also heard of a church that knew that because of budget restraints, some needed repairs and painting were being put off in their local schools, and they decided to do something about it. They were much appreciated. Let's not just look to government to love our neighbors--that's our calling. As I once read in CT Outreach & Evangelism Today, "The unchurched don't care about what Christians know until they know that Christians care."
Helen Crews
Opportunities to minister abound for any church with a heart for people in need. I applaud a downtown church in the Rochester area, that has opened its doors for students who hang around at bus stops downtown often causing mayhem. Now the kids are actively engaged in post school programs that are more appealing than just "hanging".It's no small commitment to our youth (in this case' inner city) and I pray that its positive effects will be far-reaching and lasting. The above article brings to light what may have been overlooked...volunteers coming to the rescue of school programs that are in danger of elimination due to budget constraints. One note of caution,however. Professionally trained educators should not be replaced by volunteers, though I'm sure each program will welcome capable, dedicated volunteers.
Original Anna Anna
Work through the political system which insists that Christian religion be kept out of the schools, which now calls Christmas, Winter Soltace or Holiday and Easter, Spring break and insists coloring contests have to be about eggs, bunnies, Santa Clauses, etc. with absolutely no crosses or any drawings of religion, and insist that preverted sex be taught to kids from three years old up. Politicians who use the school boards to push tax payer money into sports programs, etc. but cut the libraries, arts, languages, etc. at the first sign of money problems??. Please, the policians are why the kids need counseling while attending school. The volunteers in our Church are retired teachers, Grandparents, female parents with counseling certificates, etc. but they are stay at home Moms. Volunteers don't generally teach science, math, etc. although they do help with homework. With some of the current teachers who seem to be teaching for the "safe" job and benefits they have, kids need help.
Donna R
Reaching out to schools and the children they serve is a great idea. However, Christians could also work through the political system to make sure that "the least of these" continue to be served. I prefer that my children be educated by well-trained, well-paid teachers instead of a bunch of volunteers.
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