Despite challenges, volunteers reach out

Thursday, November 19, 1998

Despite challenges, volunteers reach out

PROGRAMS: Regulations to prevent abuse can hinder

student service programs

By Karla Y. Pleitez

Daily Bruin Contributor

Welcome to the ’90s version of helping and educating youth: do
not listen to their problems. Do not walk them home, even if they
have been threatened. But most importantly, never touch them.

The Los Angeles Unified School District(LAUSD) is enforcing
these newer, stricter state laws to protect its students.

College student volunteers say that these laws make it difficult
to truly help their students as mentors, providing both academic
and emotional support.

"We want to do special things with the kids, but there’s so many
restrictions that it can sometimes be discouraging," said Erika
Diaz, a volunteer for Latinas Guiding Latinas and a fourth-year
political science student.

LAUSD representatives said that their precautions are not
intended to discourage outreach programs, but to protect the
students they work with.

"LAUSD is more than happy to have volunteers offer their
services," said Socorro Serrano, the LAUSD communications
officer.

"We are just taking simple precautions so that, in the future,
we don’t look back and realize that a crime could have been
prevented," she said.

Two years ago, a teenage girl was murdered by a school janitor
in northern California. The janitor had a criminal record, but his
background wasn’t checked.

This murder brought problems with school safety to the forefront
of public debate. As a result, the California Legislature
unanimously passed the Alby School Safety Act, which requires
school district employees and volunteers to include references and
a set of fingerprints with their applications.

Many students find other precautions obstructive, even though
they agree that these rules can be helpful.

"Last year, I tried to start a tutorial program for children in
South Central (Los Angeles)," said Amy Hall, a 1998 graduate."I had
enough volunteers but the district took so long in approving the
applications that I lost most of the volunteers.

"It’s great that the district takes so many precautions, but
they are definitely making students miss out on some great
programs," she added.

LAUSD officials said state law demands that staff and volunteers
not touch students or offer advice.

"A little girl was crying during recess, and I went to talk to
her and gave her a hug. When I was leaving, one of the
administrators told me that my behavior was ‘inappropriate." said
Victoria Lewis, a former school volunteer.

"I was only being human," she said.

Officials claim that there are specialized departments that help
meet children’s needs.

Serrano said LAUSD schools have a crisis team, composed of
school staff and a psychologist, whose purpose is to meet the
emotional needs of students. A police officer is also assigned to
each school for students to go to if they feel threatened.

The district said that it is regulations like these that help
prevent crime on school grounds, which is why they must be obeyed
by volunteers.

"Staff or volunteers should not walk students home, no matter
what the circumstance," Serrano said.

"Because who’s to say they will not accuse the staff member or
volunteer of sexual advances in the future," she said. "Whatever
the case, it is better to take precautions."

Members of programs such as Latinas Guiding Latinas said that it
can be difficult to get close to the students because of the rules
and regulations.

"We want to get close to the students because if they trust us,
they will open up. The environment would then make it easier for
students to learn," Diaz said.

Most volunteers said that despite the obstacles they have to
deal with, the mentoring programs they offer are worthwhile
endeavor – and a necessity for the students.

"Regardless of the obstacles that the district throws in our
direction, we’re going to continue to go out to schools," said
Gracia Dalton, a fourth-year psychology student and volunteer.

"No matter what the district says, we can’t help but fall in
love with the kids we work with," she said.

Comments, feedback, problems?

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