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I was stunned. I had no idea these people were fanning out across the country

Americorp volunteers have been around and working in communities since Bill Clinton stated the program. It is an extension of the old Vista volunteer program started by LBJ.

In most cases, they are harmless kids being paid for community services in order to pay off student loans or to get money for college. However, since the One wants his own "domestic force", keeping a close eye on them might not be a bad idea. But I think most are probably harmless.

There has to be a sponsoring organization, in this case it sounds like the school district. Any concerns you might have should be directed to the sponsors since they are the ones receiving the funds to pay the volunteers.

Vista was the basis for this and Americorps has been around for years, got political, and then and was considerably de-politicized under Bush.

But this is the NEW Americorps that Obama talked about shortly after his election.

There has to be a sponsoring organization, in this case it sounds like the school district. Any concerns you might have should be directed to the sponsors since they are the ones receiving the funds to pay the volunteers.

I assume this is the "Teach for America" program, run by Americorps. It's a "volunteer" program only in that it doesn't involve conscription. TFA teachers are generally kids who graduated high in their class, but are looking to do something "socially relevant" out of college. They get paid at least as much as a "regular" starting teacher, and the sponsoring school district has to pay Americorps several thousand dollars a year for the privilege of hosting a TFA teacher. Generally, about a third of TFA teachers continue on in teaching for at least a while after their stint. The rest go on to law school or an MBA, or find work that pays better. Controversy has recently arisen because some school districts continue to hire Americorps teachers even while they are laying off their seasoned staff.