Action Plans
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same spirit, and
there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are
varieties of
activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (I Corinthians 12: 4-7)
 “ . . . Once we have the understanding of the complex problems
faced by children and families and by the education system, there is
a tendency to feel overwhelmed. Like Moses, we may be inclined to respond; 'Who
am I , Lord, that I should go?' (Exodus 3: 11 a).
Scripture gives us the affirmation we need: despite our reluctance
or our lack of eloquence
or our fear that no one will listen, God will be with us. We also have
the assurance that even the smallest action on behalf of a child can
have far-reaching consequences. It is in our power to ensure that all
children have access to a high quality education. . .
United Methodist Women can make a difference in many ways if we claim the
variety of gifts and services and activities that are the manifestation of
the Spirit in each one of us.” - Public Education: Issues and Challenges,
by Mary Grace Lyman.
- Has your state
passed Healthy Schools legislation?
Many states have or are considering legislation to require parents to be notified
when pesticides will be used in the
school. Some schools must develop plans that prevent pest problems and use
low-risk pesticides as a last result to get
rid of them. Others are doing this voluntarily.
- How old is your school building?
Buildings built in the 1970s or before are more likely to have problems related
to asbestos and lead, have aging
heating and cooling systems, and have drafty windows.
- Has the indoor air quality been tested in your school?
Over half of all schools have indoor air quality problems. If your school has
been tested, what is being done to
address any problems? If not, ask for tests so that action can be taken. The
heating, ventilation and air conditioning
(HVAC) system can play a big role in whether there is good or poor air quality
in the school. Make sure filters are
cleaned or replaced regularly and all air intake vents are free from clutter,
fumes and dust. Radon and carbon
monoxide levels should also be monitored regularly.
- Does your school have a problem with mold?
Mold is the result of an ongoing moisture problem, and affects students and
staff with allergies and asthma most.
Look for clues of a problem: standing water in the school, moisture stains
on ceiling tiles, condensation on the walls
or windows, wet carpets or the smell of mildew.
- Where do the school buses idle while students are entering
and leaving the building?
Diesel exhaust is full of cancer-causing chemicals. School buses that line
up near open doors or windows or air
intake vents can bring diesel exhaust and carbon monoxide into the school.
Buses should warm up and wait in an
area as far as possible from the school building.
- Are school playground equipment or landscaping boards made
from pressure treated wood?
Arsenic is one of the main chemicals used to treat wood and it is released
from the wood when touched. While it is
best to remove the wood, at a minimum it should be sealed at least once a year
to build a barrier between the wood
and the hands.
- How does your school handle pests, such as ants and cockroaches?
The pesticides that attack the nervous system of bugs can affect children as
well. Does the school try to prevent
pests by removing food, water and homes for pests, or is spraying pesticides
routine whether there are pests present
or not? When pesticides are used, are they the least toxic?
- What types of cleaning products are routinely used in the
school?
Carpet and bathroom cleaners are some of the most worrisome
chemicals used in schools. There is a range of nontoxic
and less toxic cleaning supplies on the market today. Encourage your school
to investigate less dangerous alternatives.
- How many rooms in your child's school have carpeting?
Carpeting is a magnet for anything that has been in the air, such as pesticides,
dust and mold from moisture problems.
Floors that can be mopped are much easier to keep clean and free of toxins.
- Does your school contain asbestos?
Asbestos is highly toxic. If it is intact, it is safest to leave it in the
school, however, it must be removed if it is
exposed or crumbling.
- Does your school contain lead?
Lead paint was used until the 1970s. If lead is contained or covered, it does
not pose a risk. However, chipping paint
or dust from rubbing windows or doors can cause a problem. Have dust and dirt
outside the school tested for lead.
- Are dust mats used at your school?
Dust mats at the doors reduce dirt and pesticides tracked into the school on
shoes.
- Show up. This includes attending Parent Teacher
Association (PTA/PTO) meetings, back-to-school nights and programs
at your schools. Ask questions and share your views.
- Take part. Schools need volunteers. Find
out how you can help.
- Teach. Learning doesn't begin and end in classrooms,
so read to your children, neighborhood children, and children in
your church. Help with homework and participate in tutoring programs in
your community.
- Know what happens during your child or grandchild's
day (or if you are serving as an adult friend to a child).
- Find out from your child and your child's school what she or
he is learning.
Look for ways to continue these
lessons at home.
- Go to school board meetings. Better yet,
run for your school board. Your elected representatives need to know what
you
think about education and what you expect from your schools.
- Vote in school board elections. An overwhelming
majority of U.S. voters don't vote in school board elections. Don't sit
out democracy.
- Pay attention to the politics. What happens
in Washington, D.C., at your state capitol, and in your city (or county)
has a
profound impact on children's lives. Learn about the issues and vote.
Stay on top of the policymakers. Write, call, visit and e-mail your local
school board members, city council members
and state and federal lawmakers to constantly remind them of your priorities
for education.
- Contribute. Schools need volunteers and materials.
If you own a business, find out what you can donate to nearby
schools. Offer professional expertise and experience
Build a learning community for every child. Participate in your local schools
in every way you can, even if you have
no children in the school.
From Campaign For
Children, Phase III; Diane Clark Vogler, (a retired
school principal) Vice-president and Chair of the
Section of
Membership and Organizational Development offers the following:
- Contact the principal or a teacher and invite
them to come and talk about when, where, and how volunteers
can help
- Read to an individual child, a small group
of children, or a class.
- Be a child's buddy by spending a few minutes
each week listening to any concerns
or questions they may have.
- Provide assistance for a teacher by filing
papers, recording information, duplicating
pages, and so forth.
- Teach an art, music, or physical education class if
certified teachers are
not available.
- Provide supervision of children on a field
trip or special outing.
- Provide financial assistance for a child's
school supplies and/or field trip
expenses.
- Listen to children read orally to you, giving them the
opportunity to practice
the reading skills they are learning
- Read the textbook information on
various subjects such as social studies, science, or health to a child who
has
difficulty with independent reading, and help with homework.
- Prepare items for various classroom learning centers.
- Create classroom bulletin boards.
- Be involved in learning activities (games) with a child
or a small group of
children.
- Present a science experiment to a class.
- Serve as a school receptionist in the office
by greeting visitors and answering
the telephone.
- Serve as a health room volunteer to record
inoculation records and/or height
or weight information.
- Serve as a classroom supervisor when the
children take a nap, to provide the
teacher with additional time for
planning and preparation.
- Serve as a greeter for new children and their
families on the first day of
school by escorting them to their class-
room and introducing them to the teachers.
- Volunteer as a computer assistant to record
general (non-confidential) data.
- Serve as a classroom assistant during special
events such as field day, class trips, parties, school-wide celebrations,
etc.
- Serve as a spokesperson for a school in your
local UMW unit.
- Secure clothing, food and/or Christmas and birthday gifts for
children when
needed.
- Serve as a language translator or interpreter when
English is not the first
language.
- Volunteer as a babysitter during meetings
such as PTA/PTO, parents' workshops,
parent/teacher conferences,
or evening classes.
- Write letters to the editor of your local
newspaper about the positive things
that are going on in your schools.
- Enhance the school's appearance by constructing
flower beds and planting greenery
and trees.
- Serve as a community representative on various
school committees.
- Encourage your UMW unit, church or local business to be a school/business
partner.
- Write grants as a way to provide for some of the needs
of the school.
- Participate in the school's annual clean-up or Saturday work
day.
- Encourage others to become active school volunteers.
From Wonderfully Made: Preparing Children to Learn and
Succeed, the 1999 resource for The National Observance of Children’s
Sabbaths (Children’s Defense Fund)
- LEARN MORE AND RAISE AWARENESS
· Hold a Forum on Getting Children Ready to Learn and Succeed
· Honor People Who Help Our Children Learn
· Host a Faith in Action Fair
· Tour a Program Serving Children
· Mark the Importance of Reading
· Express Gratitude to Those Who Helped You Learn and Succeed
day
- REACH OUT
· Fill a Gap
· Arrange Fix-Up Fun
· Give the Gift of Reading
· Set up a Reading Corner
- SPEAK UP
· “Be a Voice for Children” at a Letter-Writing Table
· Plan a Visit to your Legislators
· Write a Letter to the Editor: sample letter
· Write a Letter to congress: sample
letter, letter-writing tips
Report Cards (pdf documents)
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