Entry #32: Food and prizes draw parents now,
but involvement needs to become its own reward
Alamo Navajo Community School, New Mexico -- It seemed
fitting that my last formal event at Alamo was to cook hot dogs for kids
and parents following The 8th Grade Promotion. Corinne and I stood over
hot coals, turning franks in 90-degree temperatures.(see
photo) With only 31 students being honored and moving up to 9th grade,
I thought preparing food for 150 would leave many leftovers.
But just like at the 4H and Athletic Awards Banquets (and the graduation
party and the Biology class lamb roast), food brought out the community
and little was left to waste.
Here, in this remote location with homes spread out over 63,000 acres, one
tie-that-binds seems to be food. For the Awards Banquet, they served an
entree of mashed potatoes and roast beef which was very well received. In
fact, I noticed many folks taking home extras wrapped in aluminum foil.
While serving food is nothing new for folks trying to draw people to school
functions, it seems that it is almost a necessity here. I mentioned earlier
that only five parents came to an open house two years ago, but about 100
came to the "Parents & Teachers as Partners" Conference last
April. The difference, according to head middle school teacher Kenny Vance,
was having Root Beer floats and "give-aways."
Having items to take home may also be a motivator. Even at the Awards Banquet,
presentations would be interrupted to draw raffle tickets for free t-shirts.
So along with the food, these parents are drawn to school if given the chance
to win something. Being on a remote reservation makes items like laundry
soap, shovels and towels great prizes. The clincher for the Parent Conference
may have been that a 27" color TV was given away to one lucky parent.
It is clear that we need to find ways to entice parents and community to
participate and even to show them appreciation on occasion -- such as the
luncheon to honor the school-to-work partners. Here, a lumberyard, a vet
clinic and a floral shop were among the partners honored at a nice restaurant
in the nearest city, Socorro.
An expectation of rewards?
Most locations we have visited have also had "reluctant" partners.
Each community needs to figure out what is valued and how to initially attract
their constituents. But the difficulty may become the continued expectation
of rewards and the "what's in it for me" attitude.
At some point Alamo will need to teach their parents that involvement itself
is a reward. After all, these parents have the most to gain from an educated,
successful young person. But at this point, Alamo has not developed a tradition
of giving without expectation of return.
Our oldest son Ian participated in a basketball tournament at school which
was one of many held throughout the year to raise money for the athletic
department. When I asked the coach how many volunteers he gets to help,
his reply was "none." Aside from some grandparents teaching Navajo
crafts, there is little evidence of volunteering. And this is a community
with time to give -- 60% are unemployed at present.
While there are some community members that do show up for events despite
the extrinsic rewards, there is a great need for a shift in attitude --
for families to extended themselves for the sake of their children instead
of "what's in it for me." When this happens, the school will discover
a deep pool of resources, and students will truly feel supported while reaping
even greater success. Alamo is a community with much potential. May it be
realized.
We are on the road again, heading west to San Diego. Hope you tune in again.
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Darrell and Corrine Lee watch as the food vanishes!