2009/09/23

American Culture in School activity : Club Showcase and Parents' Voluntary

One of  the outside school-curriculum activity is joining the school club. The school club activities that are set up mostly by students and join  freely and conducted by themselvet with little direction of teacher. Middle School club are consisted mostly with outdoor activities, like sports, tennis, running, takwando, frisbee and something about hobby, like knitting, chess, and club for debates so middle school club is about learning something. Almost all club requires club activity fee among $ 40~ 150.  The director or coach of club  is a member of the community or parent who is professional or expert on the subject.  On the other hand, high school clubs are more creative and active. From the launching the new club, every process is depended on students. If the club needs some assistant, they may ask school or teachcer who charged to take care of the club, and school try to find  how to help.   Also, if some students want to found a new club, it is not difficult.

    For the club showcase day, the students make some big event, prepare some treaty candy, biskets, even big cake, make large flyers and put some pictures, club's moto, aim, and so forth on the big board to inform theirclubs. The showcase started at 7 pm in cafeteria in Walt whitman High School in Bethesda, soon all cafeteria were croweded with students who were searching good clubs. Most students usually joined more than two clubs. Because the activities outside curriculum are so important elements to enter a college, even sinior students are willing to join.   The picture shows one instant snack bar which sells some chips, wather, and small pizza.
There are few teachers including principle, 2 security persons,  and parents who were help the show case voluntarily, passing the phamplets. Beside the

phamplet desk, a mother took a seat for school fund that is collected with the name of PTSA. PTSA is Parents, Teachers,  and Students Association.

[ parent volunteer and principle, Dr. Goodwin]





  [ My girl was paticipating as a Korean Club president ]


[Whitman History Club]


[Fashion Society]
Most impressive aspect was parent voluntary. The mom who I met has serviced about 25 hours a month freely, and she has joined voluntary since her kid's elementary school age.  She is not just a homemaker, she also has her own job. Whenever she can get spear time to voluntary, she used to be willing to do it. when I ask her why she did voluntary, she just said that she felt school needs some to help, at that time she could support it. So she did it and she will continue until high school graduation. Let's think about High school in Korea. Who is willing to do voluntary in her child's school for 25 hours in a month? It is true that parents who were involved in voluntary job are getting increase. But not that much...... If  one mom services in school  as a volunteer, others probabley will blame her because they thought  she did so for child' grade or at her stake. Also, they could think it is likely  just to waste time, it has nothing to do with kid... It is different.
They also usually stick with their neighbor to service in their child's school so that new comer like me hardly get join and come close to them. It is same situation as in Korea.

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