The development, implementation, and evaluation of a school volunteer program for Cowan Heights Elementary School, St. John's

Mehaney, Marguerite (1985) The development, implementation, and evaluation of a school volunteer program for Cowan Heights Elementary School, St. John's. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The purpose of this project was to develop, implement, and evaluate a volunteer workers' program at Cowan Heights Elementary School, St. John's. -- The data for the project were drawn from (1) the writer’s personal experience in working with volunteers in the school for more than ten years, (2) a study of the literature related to volunteerism, and (3) the use of questionnaires to assess the volunteer workers' program. The value of the volunteer workers’ program was shown by administering questionnaires to volunteers, teachers, the Principal and a random sample of pupils from Cowan Heights Elementary School. The conclusions and recommendations are based on an analysis of these questionnaires, and the observations, interviews and comments of the people involved in the program. The volunteer program continues to function uninterrupted by this study and has been refined and improved as a result. -- The conclusions of the study seem clear: the volunteer program improves the services offered and increases the community's understanding of the school program. The small number of classroom teachers willing to use volunteers in their program suggests the professional's tendency to be somewhat ill at ease with volunteers, but further orientation and trust-building might eliminate much of the reluctance which now seems to exist. -- It will be shown in the course of this project that a volunteer program cannot be decided upon one day and implemented the next. To have a successful program requires motivation on the part of the principal, the teachers and the volunteers so that a team relationship is built up and an understanding established so that the pupils are the beneficiaries. -- The recommendations of this project are clear. The school personnel and the members of the community must develop a greater degree of trust in each other so that the needs of the primary participants - the students - are met in the most efficient way. School boards would be well advised to take advantage of volunteer help available to them to make this auxilary service to the school the best they can provide at no extra financial cost.

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