Open Letter to Parents and Others

An open letter to parents and other potential mentors   

Mentors and The New Three “R”s 

By Steve McCrea

Tutor and Mentor 

I’m a tutor for middle school students, so I often get asked:  “What should my child be studying?”  “Can you recommend a good web site to help him get ahead?”  “My child has difficulty reading—can you tutor him?”  Parents could bring a new question to their child’s teacher:  “ What should parents be learning about?”  I would answer, “Did you catch that important speech given by Bill Gates?”  

In February 2005, Bill Gates gave a landmark speech at a conference of governors praising small schools.  I missed it, and chances are that you did, too, because the speech was overwhelmed by the media’s focus on the Michael Jackson trial and Terri Schiavo.   Here’s the essence of what Gates said: 

“Successful schools are built on principles that can be applied anywhere.  These are the new three Rs, the basic building blocks of better high schools:  The first R is Rigor – making sure all students are given a challenging curriculum that prepares them for college or work.  The second R is Relevance – making sure kids have courses and projects that clearly relate to their lives and their goals.  The third R is Relationships – making sure kids have a number of adults who know them, look out for them, and push them to achieve.” 

If I were a parent, I would look around for adults to volunteer to come into my child’s school.  What is Gates really saying?  “Education is everyone’s business” (even his business).  

If you want to help reshape education while getting more attention for your child, make an effort to become a mentor.  You don’t have to be a parent to provide this valuable service (to yourself as well as to the community). 

Guidelines 

Stay focused.   Yes, school administrators need volunteers to help with photocopying, newspaper recycling, reorganizing closets, and raising funds.  Be sure to ask to work as a teacher’s assistant.  Your value as a mentor comes from talking with students. 

Listen.  Most visitors to a school stand at the front of the classroom and give a short talk.  Instead, you could spend time in a corner of the room with a small group of students finding out if there’s any “click” or connection.  Ask the students, “What is your passion?  What do you like to read about?”  Many kids just need a chance to talk in order to discover their interests. 

Return.  Often. Frequent contact makes a difference.  It takes seven exposures for most people to learn a new concept and many kids need to see an adult several times before your “message” gets through. Promise to return, then follow through.  Be anticipated.  Plow one row deeply to raise expectations:  Return to the same classroom rather than visiting six different classrooms. 

You don’t need a speech or special talent. Just get in the classroom, often.  Your presence is a present to students who want variety, who see the same adults in the identical profession (teaching).  Your experience in other professions will help the student more than any academic expertise you have.  Who cares how poorly you did in biology or European history when you were in high school?  If you are current on your mortgage or rent, that says something, too.  Remember what Gates said:  “Make sure kids have a number of adults who know them, look out for them, and push them to achieve.” 

If you’re curious about how a school works with mentors, visit BigPicture.org and watch the videos online.  The Met, a Big Picture school in Providence, Rhode Island, is where the new three “R”s were developed.   The formula mentioned by Gates appeared in Dennis Littky’s book, The Big Picture:  Education Is Everyone’s Business.  

I could write more, but I’m preparing for a meeting --   a meeting at a school.  You see, I’m a mentor, too. 

Steve McCrea is a tutor in Fort Lauderdale.  

Fort Lauderdale, FL  

954.646.8246 cell       

TheEbookman@gmail.com

TransformTeaching.org