Click to print a checklist 
Action
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same spirit, and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (I Corinthians 12: 4-7)
" . . . Once we have the understanding of the complex problems faced by children and families and by the education system, there is a tendency to feel overwhelmed. Like Moses, we may be inclined to respond; 'Who am I , Lord, that I should go?' (Exodus 3:11a). Scripture gives us the affirmation we need: despite our reluctance or our lack of eloquence or our fear that no one will listen, God will be with us. We also have the assurance that even the smallest action on behalf of a child can have far-reaching consequences. It is in our power to ensure that all children have access to a high quality education. . .
United Methodist Women can make a difference in many ways if we claim the variety of gifts and services and activities that are the manifestation of the Spirit in each one of us." - Public Education: Issues and Challenges, by Mary Grace Lyman.
Checklist for a healthy school
- Has your state passed Healthy Schools legislation?
Many states have or are considering legislation to require parents to be notified when pesticides will be used in the school. Some schools must develop plans that prevent pest problems and use low-risk pesticides as a last result to get rid of them. Others are doing this voluntarily. - How old is your school building?
Buildings built in the 1970s or before are more likely to have problems related to asbestos and lead, have aging heating and cooling systems, and have drafty windows. - Has the indoor air quality been tested in your school?
Over half of all schools have indoor air quality problems. If your school has been tested, what is being done to address any problems? If not, ask for tests so that action can be taken. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system can play a big role in whether there is good or poor air quality in the school. Make sure filters are cleaned or replaced regularly and all air intake vents are free from clutter, fumes and dust. Radon and carbon monoxide levels should also be monitored regularly. - Does your school have a problem with mold?
Mold is the result of an ongoing moisture problem, and affects students and staff with allergies and asthma most. Look for clues of a problem: standing water in the school, moisture stains on ceiling tiles, condensation on the walls or windows, wet carpets or the smell of mildew. - Where do the school buses idle while students are entering and leaving the building?
Diesel exhaust is full of cancer-causing chemicals. School buses that line up near open doors or windows or air intake vents can bring diesel exhaust and carbon monoxide into the school. Buses should warm up and wait in an area as far as possible from the school building. - Are school playground equipment or landscaping boards made from pressure treated wood?
Arsenic is one of the main chemicals used to treat wood and it is released from the wood when touched. While it is best to remove the wood, at a minimum it should be sealed at least once a year to build a barrier between the wood and the hands. - How does your school handle pests, such as ants and cockroaches?
The pesticides that attack the nervous system of bugs can affect children as well. Does the school try to prevent pests by removing food, water and homes for pests, or is spraying pesticides routine whether there are pests present or not? When pesticides are used, are they the least toxic? - What types of cleaning products are routinely used in the school?
Carpet and bathroom cleaners are some of the most worrisome chemicals used in schools. There is a range of nontoxic and less toxic cleaning supplies on the market today. Encourage your school to investigate less dangerous alternatives. - How many rooms in your child's school have carpeting?
Carpeting is a magnet for anything that has been in the air, such as pesticides, dust and mold from moisture problems. Floors that can be mopped are much easier to keep clean and free of toxins. - Does your school contain asbestos?
Asbestos is highly toxic. If it is intact, it is safest to leave it in the school, however, it must be removed if it is exposed or crumbling. - Does your school contain lead?
Lead paint was used until the 1970s. If lead is contained or covered, it does not pose a risk. However, chipping paint or dust from rubbing windows or doors can cause a problem. Have dust and dirt outside the school tested for lead. - Are dust mats used at your school?
Dust mats at the doors reduce dirt and pesticides tracked into the school on shoes.
Action ideas
- Show up. This includes attending Parent Teacher Association (PTA/PTO) meetings, back-to-school nights and programs at your schools. Ask questions and share your views.
- Take part. Schools need volunteers. Find out how you can help.
- Teach. Learning doesn't begin and end in classrooms, so read to your children, neighborhood children, and children in your church. Help with homework and participate in tutoring programs in your community.
- Know what happens during your child or grandchild's day (or if you are serving as an adult friend to a child).
- Find out from your child and your child's school what she or he is learning. Look for ways to continue these lessons at home.
- Go to school board meetings. Better yet, run for your school board. Your elected representatives need to know what you think about education and what you expect from your schools.
- Vote in school board elections. An overwhelming majority of U.S. voters don't vote in school board elections. Don't sit out democracy.
- Pay attention to the politics. What happens in Washington, D.C., at your state capitol, and in your city (or county) has a profound impact on children's lives. Learn about the issues and vote. Stay on top of the policymakers. Write, call, visit and e-mail your local school board members, city council members and state and federal lawmakers to constantly remind them of your priorities for education.
- Contribute. Schools need volunteers and materials. If you own a business, find out what you can donate to nearby schools. Offer professional expertise and experience Build a learning community for every child. Participate in your local schools in every way you can, even if you have no children in the school.
- Contact the principal or a teacher and invite them to come and talk about when, where, and how volunteers can help
- Read to an individual child, a small group of children, or a class.
- Be a child's buddy by spending a few minutes each week listening to any concerns or questions they may have.
- Provide assistance for a teacher by filing papers, recording information, duplicating pages, and so forth.
- Teach an art, music, or physical education class if certified teachers are not available.
- Provide supervision of children on a field trip or special outing.
- Provide financial assistance for a child's school supplies and/or field trip expenses.
- Listen to children read orally to you, giving them the opportunity to practice the reading skills they are learning
- Read the textbook information on various subjects such as social studies, science, or health to a child who has difficulty with independent reading, and help with homework.
- Prepare items for various classroom learning centers.
- Create classroom bulletin boards.
- Be involved in learning activities (games) with a child or a small group of children.
- Present a science experiment to a class.
- Serve as a school receptionist in the office by greeting visitors and answering the telephone.
- Serve as a health room volunteer to record inoculation records and/or height or weight information.
- Serve as a classroom supervisor when the children take a nap, to provide the teacher with additional time for planning and preparation.
- Serve as a greeter for new children and their families on the first day of school by escorting them to their class- room and introducing them to the teachers.
- Volunteer as a computer assistant to record general (non-confidential) data.
- Serve as a classroom assistant during special events such as field day, class trips, parties, school-wide celebrations, etc.
- Serve as a spokesperson for a school in your local UMW unit.
- Secure clothing, food and/or Christmas and birthday gifts for children when needed.
- Serve as a language translator or interpreter when English is not the first language.
- Volunteer as a babysitter during meetings such as PTA/PTO, parents' workshops, parent/teacher conferences, or evening classes.
- Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper about the positive things that are going on in your schools.
- Enhance the school's appearance by constructing flower beds and planting greenery and trees.
- Serve as a community representative on various school committees.
- Encourage your UMW unit, church or local business to be a school/business partner.
- Write grants as a way to provide for some of the needs of the school.
- Participate in the school's annual clean-up or Saturday work day.
- Encourage others to become active school volunteers.
- LEARN MORE AND RAISE AWARENESS
· Hold a Forum on Getting Children Ready to Learn and Succeed
· Honor People Who Help Our Children Learn
· Host a Faith in Action Fair
· Tour a Program Serving Children
· Mark the Importance of Reading
· Express Gratitude to Those Who Helped You Learn and Succeed day - REACH OUT
· Fill a Gap
· Arrange Fix-Up Fun
· Give the Gift of Reading
· Set up a Reading Corner - SPEAK UP
· "Be a Voice for Children" at a Letter-Writing Table
· Plan a Visit to your Legislators
· Write a Letter to the Editor: sample letter
· Write a Letter to congress: sample letter, letter-writing tips
From Campaign For Children, Phase III; Diane Clark Vogler, (a retired school principal) Vice-president and Chair of the Section of Membership and Organizational Development offers the following:
From Wonderfully Made: Preparing Children to Learn and Succeed, the 1999 resource for The National Observance of Children's Sabbaths (Children's Defense Fund)
Report Cards
(pdf documents)
- Grade a local school: Visit a school and evaluate the learning environment
- Grade yourself: Measure individual or group progress on the Campaign for Children
