PARENT VOLUNTEERS LINK HOME AND SCHOOL LIFE

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dan Tallent addressed a PTA meeting at Alma Schrader School Thursday.

Alma Schrader Principal Frank Ellis attended the school's PTA meeting Thursday night.

Marvin McBride, a parent volunteer at Cape Girardeau Civic Center, took a prize ticket from 9-year-old Jimmy White Thursday night.

Children receive their first learning experiences in the home. Parents put in countless hours helping their children to take their first steps and say their first words.

As children grow older, however, parental involvement in their lives lessens and other people, like teachers and church leaders, often are expected to take over the parental role.

Even so, a core group of parents still exists to give their children and others the nurturing and encouragement needed for development to adulthood.

These are the parent volunteers.

"The parents that do participate and that are involved are the ones who do everything," said Nick Roberts, a Scout Master at the Cape Girardeau Civic Center. "There are only a few of them who are always helping out."

Roberts said parent volunteers are essential to Scouting. Parents are always encouraged to get involved in Scout activities because their interest often leads to better participation by the child.

"It's always a benefit when you can get parents involved," he said. "Scouting is a family program, and we'll often send letters out or hold special events like our Pinewood Derby to get the parents out."

School officials said organizations that unite parents and teachers also are beneficial to students. Whether parents are bringing snacks for a classroom event or organizing a chili supper, children receive positive reinforcement whenever a parent enters a school, they said.

Judy Statler, a counselor at West Lane Elementary School in Jackson, said parental involvement outside the home also helps children develop academically and socially. She praised the parent volunteers that participate in programs sponsored by the West Lane Parents Always Love Students (PALS) group.

"Our PALS have done so many things that benefit our kids," said Statler. "They are our backup support."

Statler said there are about 40 volunteer PALS enrolled, but only about 12 are actively involved. Many more parents help to organize special events and speakers, however, she said.

Programs sponsored by the group include a bimonthly Lunch Bunch program to expose students to different careers, and a Kids in Charge program that teaches latchkey children basic first aid and emergency procedures to protect them while their parents are at work.

"We have a lot of them who aren't very active but who help behind the scenes to organize things," Statler said. "Just the contact with adults helps the students."

Julie Mouser said she has enjoyed being a parent volunteer because she believes she is making a difference in the lives of the children she works with. "We're the middlemen," she said. "Our main job is making the contact to bring others from the community so that the children know the community cares about them."