How should we advocate?
Over the last few years I've come across different national volunteers trying to solicit former homeless to speak at local schools, for educating the kids as to what life on the streets is about.
This made me wonder if it's reasonable or not for the speaker to get paid for his time, travel, and presenting information that in all fairness is based on years of experience.
As my ceiling fan twirls it makes me wonder...is it wrong to expect such compensation? Would we be so easily able to attain other speakers if they weren't paid?
Then again, who screens or decides which former homeless walk into schools interacting with young children? What if any level of criminal background is the limit, since many chronic homeless have that in their past in some shape or fashion?
5 comments:
I haven't really thought much about the screening process for allowing homeless to speak in schools. However I will say that having a rough background may, in fact, make a speaker more effective in the classroom depending on what they have done to clean themselves up? I have heard many speakers with unbelievable past experiences with drugs and abuse, and I must say their stories of survival and renewal are very effective in helping me to keep perspective.
I beleive those who are using their time and energy to make a difference, especially one who has been homeless, should be compensated for their time. Of course there are different terms in which volunteering is enough. Many school speakers get paid for their time one way or another, why shouldn't a homeless or once homeless person get paid as well in some way or another.
I agree with Dorian on the criminal background issue, it should't get in their way. They have changed and are more then worthy to discuss with children or teens their live trails and growth from these trails.
Besides, it's not like whomever would be speaking is left to roam the halls unescorted. Even a parent going into a school is chaperoned. Never can tell when we might act up.
Dorian,
Most schools have standard policies for 'guest' speakers let alone anyone that comes into regular contact with kids on campus.
This school year I noted two officers regularly assigned physically on the property who are pretty watchful and vigilante as to who regularly approaches the property...there's a few older teens who 'should' be in school, but choose to hang out before and after classes start.
Very good perspective, and thanks for commenting. :)
Jennifer,
Interesting point on how deep you went on the criminal background check. I'm getting information from people who've 'gone on' in advocating from their experiences.
Ironically one gentleman in particular who's the founder of a local non-profit is causing his non-profit to be ineligible for funding by the City, due to him having an innocuous misdemeanor in his youth.
Really good example of the hypocrisy sometimes of bureaucracy protecting us. I made the point that if in fact he got the regulation changed, it'd be funny if the funding were diverted to someone rather than him that hadn't gotten off their butt to make the change to begin with in regard to the regulation in question.
Thanks for commenting!
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