Curt Dunlop was born and raised in Bracebridge. Champion of small-town living, engaged Dad, busy body, pot-stirrer, sporty musical nerd. Enjoy this glimpse into the questions that bounce around my head.
Since I was a hockey-playing youngster, this thought has popped into my head from time to time. Now that I am a father (of two), it has appeared again with further curiosity. This isn’t meant as an attack on anyone but is just an unanswered ‘why’ that you’re welcome to contemplate with me. Here’s the gist:
Programs for kids generally have an adult or adolescent passing on the information/skillset they have acquired through years of training. Why are some of these positions paid, and other are expected to be volunteers?
I watched my father coach hockey and baseball for decades. He poured himself into it, with countless hours of prep, meetings, and ensuring he had the necessary certificates/training to be considered each year for the coaching positions. In our small-town hockey and baseball coaches aren’t paid, and neither are the managers, executive, or adolescent players who help with the younger teams. This is fine; I happily jump on the ice to help with both of my kids’ teams. It is a skill I have, and the expectation is that I pass it on gratis.
I’m a (semi) competent musician, and happily share and teach what I know to my family. I have been asked by numerous friends and members of our community if I would teach them or their offspring. Cash is always offered. It is an expectation that if you want music lessons, that the teacher is paid.
Why, then, with all the skills we pass down to the next generation via organized programs, is there an expectation that some teachers/coaches are volunteers, while others are paid? Who decided this? Are there rules that apply so you can understand what should be volunteer versus paid?
Who decided that a retired pro dancer who works at a studio should be paid, but a graduated NCAA hockey player who coaches minor hockey should volunteer? Don’t they have a similar level of expertise? Isn’t their time worth the same?
Why are the soccer Mom and basketball Dad expected to put their time in for the kids, but the Spanish teacher and the gymnastics coach should be paid?
The list is long for paid and volunteer positions. I have no problem with anyone getting paid. I also hold all volunteers in high regard. The examples I used above are not to single out any profession.
As a further thought, there are life skills out there that would be beneficial for nearly everyone to know from a young-ish age. If there’s no-one in your life that has those skills, it would be nice if there were avenues to acquire these skills: budgeting, introductory car mechanics, chainsawing, basic woodworking/sewing/gardening, welding, home maintenance, canning/preserving. I’m sure there’s more that could be on this list. A Life Skills 101 that is a nice introduction to many skills that would improve our lives. I’d pay for my kids to take this course. I’d pay for me to take this course.
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