The Gift of Time
November 23, 2009 by Rob
Filed under Community Needs, Mountain View, Sunnyvale
A few days ago I (Rob) was given a huge gift by three principals of three Title One (over 50% low income students) elementary schools in Northern California. Despite the challenges they each experience in educating more students with limited resources, each principal gave me the costly gift of their time which allowed me to better understand the strengths and needs of our California public schools.
Two of the principals lead schools in Woodland (near Sacramento) where the school district has recently made the difficult choice to close two of their ten elementary schools due to state budget cuts. The impact on the remaining schools is larger classroom sizes— from 20 to 32 students per classroom at the 1st through 3rd grade levels. The challenge and pinch they feel is adding so many students and yet having to decrease their resource staff numbers this past year. No longer can they call upon an adequate number of specialists and aids that can provide additional support to their teachers and students.
One principal shared his concern is not only for his school but also for the youth in his community. He sees his students and older students hanging out after school with not a lot to do. He and others see a growing gang problem in Woodland, partly because there are not enough affordable and constructive activities for kids and youth to pursue when they are not in class. He highlighted a couple of churches have recently provided some free activities but they’re only once or twice a week. His dream? “Youth intramural leagues around town,” he said with enthusiasm.
When asked what their greatest “felt need” was, they each had a similar response. Without hesitation, one principal replied, “The gift of time. These kids need more adults, whether they are paid or volunteers, to give these kids the gift of their time.”
Our early literacy projects and classroom adoption programs are a direct result from listening to principals and teachers. They exist to provide children with needed resources and attention from caring youth and adults. RPM hosted our second Bookshelf in Every Home early literacy project in Mountain View yesterday. Abundant Life Christian Fellowship members turned out in force and brought with them nine students from Eastside Prep in East Palo Alto. Watching these youth laugh and pour into the 1st graders from Castro Elementary along with adults of all ages was a beautiful picture of the “gift of time” at work.
To all our amazing friends who have volunteered or given to Reach Potential Movement this year— we want you to know how thankful we are for each of you this Thanksgiving! Thank you for giving kids and youth your most costly gift—your gift of time. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
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