I'm a senior in high school and I take a class called "Character Education". My teacher was constantly going on and on about helping others, so I said "When are we going to stop talking and take action? Let's go help out at a soup kitchen!" My teacher loved that a student actually cared enough to make this suggestion, and he asked our principal. The principal said NO. What? My school apparantly wants us all to be selfish jerks and never try to help. Shouldn't they be teaching us to care for others? How can I make my suggestion happen?
2007-02-01 01:18:10 · 13 answers · asked by Katie 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Community Service
Talk to your teacher about starting an after school club where you and others wanting to help could make your actions 'heard'. If that doesn't work - try organizing your own club on the weekends or work with an established organization like Family Promise or Habitat for Humanity (links below).
2007-02-01 01:24:26 · answer #1 · answered by pamela.fuller 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is just a guess, but I bet your principal is worried about lawsuits, parental permission forms, the cost of transportation, contracts to write up between your school and the soup kitchen, or a dozen other silly (but real) legal problems that our modern society has invented to make it hard to help people.
Google up the history of Second Harvest, a charity that takes leftover food from restaurants and donates it to soup kitchens. Read about all the legal problems they have had. Many, many MANY restaurants would rather throw their food in the garbage instead of donating it - because they are scared they will be sued if someone gets sick from their "old" food. (and by "old" we mean just a few hours old - Second Harvest collects every night, after the restaurants close)
good luck, and don't stop trying.
2007-02-01 09:51:01 · answer #2 · answered by Zhara um Nikko 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well that's rediculous. I'm part of a homeschooling group and we have a tuesday once a month that as many people that want to can go and help out at a soup kitchen.
My suggestion is find a soup kitchen find out when you could come in to help and then just find what other kids would be interested in going with you. And if none then do it yourself. Take it outside of the school. Public schools are messed up.
2007-02-01 04:50:51 · answer #3 · answered by missy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell the principle that nt all the field trip time should be saved for the football players.
No seriously, there are insurance liability issues. It's not exactly a controlled environment you're going into there. Maybe a different project like a collections drive. Clothes are not hard for the homeless to get, but wool socks are a blessing. Do a carwash and buy socks.
2007-02-01 05:10:24 · answer #4 · answered by nursesr4evr 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would write a letter to the school board you did the first part you told the teacher then the spoke to the pricipal now its time to talk to the schhol board you need to get a petetion signed by all the students that would do it and the teacher or teachers. Come up with an idea on day time and place and have that all in order talk to the place you want to do it and have them sign the petetion saying they would love to have you. ALot of the resaon is safety that is why he may have said no but if you folllow the chain of command it may work out have your ducks in a row. THen present it.
2007-02-01 01:34:27 · answer #5 · answered by awwfu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is your principal simply against a class field trip? Would s/he agree to an on-campus student's volunteer group being started that might have a relationship with a local soup kitchen on a regular basis?
2007-02-01 01:31:28 · answer #6 · answered by Daniela E 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's the simple fact that sending a group of kids to a soup kitchen would be a liability to the school if they condoned it. Your school doesn't want you to be selfish jerks, they want you to come up with ideas that don't involve you potentially getting hurt. Maybe you could have a fund raiser to support the soup kitchen, but any administrator who let a group of kids go work there would likely get fired.
2007-02-01 02:13:31 · answer #7 · answered by Kris B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Doing things during school hours may be a liability issue....sort of like any other "field trip" might be. If you got the right permissions, I don't see the problem. Or, maybe they just don't want you doing this during school hours.
The first respondant to your question had a great idea. You can still do these things on the weekends or after school or join other volunteer organizations where you can help out.
2007-02-01 01:30:46 · answer #8 · answered by Rach 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you and your teacher feel that strongly about something, then you might want to go to the Board of Administrators. Then you can tell them your reasons and they have the authority over your principal.
2007-02-01 01:37:06 · answer #9 · answered by ronrich23 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Charity is the highest calling so follow the good advise given here whether it be at school or out of school.
2007-02-01 06:03:55 · answer #10 · answered by spareo1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋