School starts next week and thousands of V.I. boys who lack adult male role models at home face higher chances of problems in school, so V.I. public schools and parent groups are asking every man able to volunteer three hours helping students this year.
The National PTA is spearheading the concept in its efforts to combat historically low male participation in parent involvement groups, and with the territory struggling hard with that very issue, the V.I. Education Department and V.I. Parent Teacher Student Association are joining in. Nationwide, the National PTA’s MORE (Men Organized to Raise Engagement) Alliance and the National Fatherhood Leaders Group are calling the effort a "Million Hours of Power," and aim to inspire 350,000 American men to each dedicate three hours of service to the education, health and well-being of children.
In the territory there are some 54,000 men and boys, of whom 27,000 are under the age of 18, Education Commissioner LaVerne Terry said in a statement. However, only 4,200 of those young men live in a household with an adult male influence, she said.
"I challenge and encourage the 26,847 males over the age of 18, whether they are parents or not, to provide at least three hours of service to a school or community activities that support our children," she said. "This will equal 80,541 hours toward the million hours of true power and toward the betterment of the lives of children, and which will result in the educational, social, and physical benefits to children across this territory.”
There are innumerable opportunities for men to volunteer, from calling up the territory’s Boys and Girls Clubs and asking how you can help, to being a chaperone for school field trips. You can email new V.I. PTSA President Alvin Bedneau at [email protected] and find out more about opportunities to get involved.
The Million Hours of Power campaign runs throughout the 2010–2011 school year. Working with the National Center for Fathering, PTA will provide a tracking tool so districts and schools can log hours and watch the campaign’s progress.
For more information, go to www.pta.org/millionhours.