Your View — Field day great volunteer experience

John Just, Mankato

May 20, 2008 01:21 am

— I recently was a witness to, and had a small voluntary part of, the best conceived and most effectively carried out end-of-school, field-day activity imaginable.
One year ago, I had my original volunteering experience with Garfield Elementary’s sixth graders as they wrapped up 2006-2007 with track-and-field events that were as enthusiastically participated in as any similar high school or collegiate events might have portrayed. In my mind, there was no doubt about it, I wanted to return in 2008 for another opportunity with this wonderful school event.
Besides the extremely healthy competitive nature of each race and field event, it was truly the superb organizational plan that physical education director Sandy Hasse had produced that stands out in my mind.
Equally so, I was impressed with the importance placed on all students successfully being involved as active participants (with success being defined in many more ways than “just winning the race”).
These and other ideals of what we always hope sports will produce were abundantly demonstrated on Garfield’s action field. Teams cheered for their own teammates — but in many obvious manners also showed respect for their opponents. Encouragement, assistance, praise, enjoyment eagerly following instructions and pure, simple, unobstructed chances at having fund were all very evident to my 74-year-old eyes.
In short, this was a textbook case come to life or proof great things don’t happen only in the movies. It took place in reality at Garfield and I can’t wait to get back there next year.