GAY GEISER-SANDOVAL -- Educationally speaking

Spare change for cancer victims. Canned food drive for the homeless.

Jogathons for schools. Rolls of giftwrap for grade-level activities and

field trips. Community service work.

These are all worthy causes and fund-raisers to support them happen

regularly on our district campuses. But are our students truly

altruistic, or do they expect something in return?

Recently, I attended a “School Pride” event. Students, parents and staff

were asked to come on a Saturday to clean, paint and plant the campus.

Our labor would be valuable to make the place where the students spend

their day more pleasant.

As I worked, I asked the students why they came. I didn’t find one kid

who was there out of the goodness of his or her heart. The students were

there because a club or organization on campus required them to be there

or because a teacher was giving them extra credit.

The first question upon arrival wasn’t, “How can I help?” It was, “Where

do I sign up for my extra points?”

It saddens me that we have to use bribery to get kids to take care of

their own campus. It saddens me that so few parents, and even fewer staff

members were there to set a good example.

But upon reflection, it seems the “I” in charity was established long

before these students got to high school.

I can’t remember ever having a school run -- a jogathon or similar

campaign designed to raise funds -- in which the kids who collected the

most money didn’t get some terrific prizes.

Through local donations and by expending up to 20% of the run’s

contributions as incentives, there were lots of prizes to give out. At

rallies before the run, we never emphasized the school improvements that

would be made with the donations. We focused on the prizes, which were

promenaded out to boost student enthusiasm.

Fund-raisers sponsored by fund-raising companies already come with the

prizes built in, which triples the price that supporters pay for the

wrapping paper or candy.

Instead of just offering a pencil or token for the student’s labor, big

bucks are offered via a trip inside the “money machine.” The student who

collects the most, climbs inside a tube with paper money blowing around

him and grabs as much as he can in the allotted time. Is it any wonder

that the true spirit of giving may be lost on our children?

Some contests don’t promote individual prizes, but rather the whole class

wins or loses by its combined total. This type of contest is used for

canned-food campaigns, PTA membership drives and money collections during

the holidays.

The kids often get a pizza or ice cream party. It isn’t uncommon for

teachers to sweeten the pot with extra points or a free pass to avoid

homework if the class wins. Part of the reason for these tactics is that

the winning classroom teacher may be up for her own set of prizes. It

isn’t uncommon for the teacher to get dinner certificates, limo rides or

other great perks for his or her promotional skills to the class.

The last bastion of giving was the students’ volunteer community service

hours. Now, in order to graduate, each ninth- through 12th-grader must complete 10 hours of community service each year.

My concern is that when our students graduate from school and are asked

to give time and money back to their community, will they be asking for a

prize? Will they help if they receive nothing besides the feeling that it

is the right thing to do?