Home > Gwinnett > Rick Badie / My Opinion > Archives > 2009 > January > 24 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTutoring rewards all involved
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A blurb in a church bulletin caught Sandra Knighton’s eye.
Her church, Tucker First United Methodist, was in search of some folk willing to take 30 minutes out of their day to read with students at Nesbit Elementary, a Gwinnett County public school in Tucker, near Lucky Shoals Park.
Knighton, a retiree, met the most important criterion: she enjoyed being around children. “I have a lot of nieces and nephews and grandnieces and nephews,” she told me.
So she signed up.
Last year, she was matched with a second-grade girl. The experience was so rewarding she asked if she could add another student. “You know, I was already down there anyway, spending 30 minutes with one child,” she said.
This year, Knighton has returned to Nesbit, one of 17 volunteers who reads to about 25 students Monday through Thursday. They comprise a program called Reading Partners, a community outreach initiative created by Tucker First. Church member Sally Crawford, an educator who has worked at Nesbit since it opened in the mid-1990s, oversees the program, one she deems inspirational and vital.
“This is not an original idea,” she told me, “but it’s tried and true. It’s even more poignant in this day and time when we need to reach out to everybody, and if we can do it through the children, that’s great.”
All too often people tend to sit back, moan and groan about this, that and the other, yet not lift a finger — in this case, a book — to effect change. Comfort, for them, comes through complaining, in being smug and self-righteous. Always on the right side.
Naturally, Reading Partners serves an academic purpose. Marginal students, it is hoped, will expand their vocabulary and sharpen their sense of comprehension. In essence, they’ll become better readers. But the residual effects are just as worthy though immeasurable by the usual means, standardized tests and such.
“Some of these children have parents who are struggling from an economic standpoint,” said Crawford, who’s retired but works part-time as Nesbit’s parent instructional support coordinator. “It’s hard for the parents to spend time with the children because they are working long hours and are tired and exhausted. The volunteer is not a parent or a teacher, but just a friend who sits with them, talks with them and serves as a tutor, and in many instances, a mentor. We are out there thinking we are going to do all these academic things, but the true power is in the relationship these children have with these adults.”
And in Knighton’s case, the relationship is strong.
One day Crawford was in a third-grade teacher’s classroom when a little girl approached her. She wanted to know if Knighton — who’d been her reading partner last year — would be visiting the school again this year.
“When I told her yes, she started jumping up and down,” Crawford said. “Both girls seemed very excited.”
What the girls didn’t know was that Knighton had asked if she could continue working with them. She reads to them one at a time when she visits on Wednesdays, and she makes sure they are comprehending what they are reading.
“Since they are Hispanic, I ask them certain words,” Knighton said. “They are very honest. They’ll say they don’t know if they don’t know. I get hugs and smiles from both girls. With children, it’s very rewarding. It doesn’t cost you anything but your time and the little gas to get there. This doesn’t take a whole lot of effort.”
Comments
By Texan Interrupted.
January 24, 2009 9:49 AM | Link to this
Get involved, Georgia!
By higher aim need apply
January 24, 2009 10:24 AM | Link to this
The states with the highest illiteracy rates are California, 23 percent, Florida, 20 percent, New York, 22 percent, and the District of Columbia and Texas, both at 19 percent.
Get involved, Georgia!?
By LT5000
January 24, 2009 3:49 PM | Link to this
Maybe one of these tutors will take Blubbering Badie in and teach him how to be a journalist.
Maybe one of the hispanic kids will learn to write a letter to Papi in jail.
Now. Today’s Illegal Immigrant News:
*LAWRENCEVILLE - Gwinnett investigators have arrested three men they said have been stealing vehicles, changing the identification numbers and selling them out of Atlanta-area parking lots. *
Carlos Arturo Miranda, 37, of Norcross; Mardoque Sanchez Mejia, 48; and David Fuentes Mejia, 18, both of Wallace, N.C., were charged Thursday with several counts including theft by receiving a motor vehicle and possessing a vehicle with an altered VIN.
The real Gwinnett News is at the Gwinnett Daily Post, not the AJC and especially nothing newsworthy published by Blubbering Badie.
And still they wonder why the AJC is losing $1 million per day.
LT5000
By BW
January 24, 2009 5:56 PM | Link to this
By higher aim need apply, that’s with over a 100,00 students in the school system a lot of studens would be needed. One idea would be give extra credit to upper class high school student and college students. Plus you cannot run a school system on the cheap, even if that means raising taxes.
L’Bonehead’T, read the metro section about Georgia having one of the toughest illegal laws in the South and no one paying attention to it, it’s been in effect for a year and a half. Try to be relevent and address the column, your whine’s are getting old
By Michael H. Smith
January 24, 2009 7:30 PM | Link to this
That’s as in illiteracy rates for states and one district not student bodies, BW. More money spent does not necessarily translate into a better quality education or higher academic achievements. Points in case: State of New York and the District of Columbia, both of which out spends Georgia on education per student. Further to the point, with a school budget cut Warren County Middle School here in Georgia, where the student body is majority minority with the vast majority of that minority dependent on the school lunch program for assistance, those students made drastic academic improvements across the broad in one year by simply “getting everyone involved” and returning to the basic of education. Of all things they included the use phonics - which I’m not totally comfortable with - to do it. But, if it works, so be it.
Sure, many parents are exhausted as this blog suggest but the horrid truth is that one out seven adults in this country cannot read what has been written on this blog. That being the case these adults cannot help their children to read. With immigration - particularly illegal immigrations - playing a contributing factor, also as this blog suggest and which concurs with the department of education report, the next generation of adults in this country will be less intelligent than our present generation.
The “entire country needs to get involved” and this is one time Georgia can be glad of our low ranking - in the state illiteracy rates.
By nana
January 24, 2009 10:44 PM | Link to this
I applaud the lady in the article. Some of the children in schools don’t have anyone at home that can help them, be it a language barrier or lack of an education. Children are so precious especially at the lower grade level.
By BW
January 24, 2009 11:52 PM | Link to this
MHS, I agree about the states average compared to individual districts, take New York City, still the melting pot of the world, out of the equation and the stat wide average would be much higher.
The District of Columbia is an unusal case, a city with a very small tax base, government building pay no taxes. A Mayor and a City council, plus Congress controlling the city, right there you know it’s toubled. A representitive in the House yet no voting power? If there was a a place that should be a shining example of the country it should be the District of Columbia.
I think you and probably many more misunderstood my comment about raising taxes. I am not talking about shooting money at problems and hopeing it works, but keeping the teachers we have. I may be wrong here, but didn’t Sonny already talked about cutting teachers pay? I rather kick in a few more bucks and in with the good, out with the bad.
I” get back to you shortly on the Warren County Middle School, I really haven’t heard of it.
By BW
January 25, 2009 12:10 AM | Link to this
MHS, you cannot compare a county with a total population that is lower than one of our high schools sorry.
2008 Student Enrollment: 192
6th Grade Enrollment : 64 7th Grade Enrollment : 63 8th Grade Enrollment : 65
2007 Student Enrollment: 183
6th Grade Enrollment : 61 7th Grade Enrollment : 62 8th Grade Enrollment : 60
Black Enrollment (%): 96.0%
Warren County Middle School: 96.0% State average from 2125 schools: 40.5%
Hispanic Enrollment (%): 1.0%
This school: 1.0% State average from 2125 schools: 8.7%
White Enrollment (%): 2.0%
Here: 2.0% State average from 2125 schools: 45.6%
Multi-racial Enrollment (%): 2.0%
This school: 2.0% State average from 2125 schools: 2.8%
Economically Disadvantaged Enrollment (%): 89.0%
Here: 89.0% State average from 2130 schools: 55.2%
Students With Disabilities Enrollment (%): 7.0%
This school: 7.0% State average from 2125 schools: 12.7%
http://www.city-data.com/school/warren-county-middle-school-ga.html
Population in July 2007: 1,955. Population change since 2000: -2.5% http://www.city-data.com/city/Warrenton-Georgia.html
By LT5000
January 25, 2009 1:10 AM | Link to this
Brucie the resident dumbass.
Apparently someone forgot to tell Cobb and Gwinnett counties since their 287g programs are in full swing.
Getting rid of the illegal criminals is a good start.
Don’t worry Brucie, you will still be able to find a Papi Chulo at the local gas station to come over and clean your pipes.
Maybe you can get a tutor too. You could use some writing skilss. Your posts are incoherent at best. But what can I expect from someone who doesn’t even have a GED?
LT5000
By Michael H. Smith
January 25, 2009 2:16 AM | Link to this
Well you should have heard of Warren County and forgot about this non-sense of drawing numerical comparisons. The example was used for entirely different purposes, than to again, reason in degrees for immoral support. What this all comes down to is not the laudable noble efforts of a few but to show what happens when a total commitment is made by all parties concerned that can be replicated across a nation or in a relatively small school in a relatively small system, independent of so much money or geography or of ethnicity being the ultimate decider of the outcome. Which means everybody has to get involved, not ” get involved, Georgia” but it takes every state in the United States to get involved including the worse ones cited in that dismal illiteracy report.
If you wish continue to play with your numbers BW and rationalize as best you can to cast the darkest spot on the brightest light enjoy your pursuit of saying what can’t be done with what can’t be compared only to ignore what has been done to what has been compared numerous times: The success of going back to the basics of education in the home, in the school, in the factory, on the TV, anywhere and everywhere a mentor be.
And before anyone calls me Obama, you know, the man might just have a responsible point about responsibility.
I am seriously afraid we are the most uselessly over entertained undereducated society for the worth of a nation spent that mankind will ever be able to produce, North, South, East or West.
By Frank Teddleson
January 25, 2009 9:59 AM | Link to this
We’re supposed to be entertained? What did I miss?
By Michael H. Smith
January 25, 2009 12:06 PM | Link to this
Kind of rhetorical in all when you think about it, isn’t Frank?
And worst of it all, if had not been for the swimsuit competition life’s fashion show was a real bummer.
By Mark
January 25, 2009 1:32 PM | Link to this
LT5000 What are “skilss”? Looks like the illiteracy rate in GA just went up …..
By BW
January 25, 2009 1:37 PM | Link to this
MHS, you cannot compare Mayberry to New York. Sure it’s great that a county with a total population of 1,900, schools can get the community involved, now try doing it doing it with over 700,000 in the county.
L’Bonehead’T, the same article appears in todays paper, read it slowly. The famed 287g program only applies to the bad guys, a tiny percentage. Now when everyone ignores the supposed tough on illegals state law you still have a never ending flow.
So L’Bonehead’T, until the state law is enforced or every illegal commits a crime, the 287g program hardly even makes a dent in the problem. Read the article, get informed, than you may someday be relevant.
By Michael H. Smith
January 25, 2009 2:36 PM | Link to this
BW, the small number of one is very fascinating when multiplied by numbers greater than itself: Take for example one times 700,000 or vise-versa?
What is even more fascinating is when one lady teaches two girls to read, how that one interest compounds into multiple returns that could eventually accrue a yield of 700,000.
The report is the report, argue it anyway your bruised pride needs to survive, Mayberry was not compared to New York.
But if lowly Mayberry can do something that proves successful, perhaps New York and all other parts of the country should take to finding out why and try to replicate that successful environment of education?
By LT5000
January 25, 2009 3:31 PM | Link to this
Brucie the Dumbass sayeth:
*So L’Bonehead’T, until the state law is enforced or every illegal commits a crime, the 287g program hardly even makes a dent in the problem. *
What is your point, that the 287g program should be ignored? We should have more illegal criminals in Gwinnett County?
As I stated before, getting rid of the Illegal Immigrant criminals is a good start.
Brucie, read before you post, you might be able to convince a few people that you don’t have an extra chromosome.
Spend less time on your knees and a few more hours in the library (not on your knees in the bathroom). You may be able to make a coherent argument someday.
LT5000
By LT5000
January 25, 2009 3:35 PM | Link to this
Now I understand why Brucie is lashing out today. One of his good friend just got busted.
Atlanta gay nightlife photographer Gary Salles was arrested in Winchester, Tenn., during an undercover operation and charged with running an international child porn operation and selling crystal methamphetamine, according to police.
Brucie will have to hit several rest stops bathrooms in order to quell his sadness.
http://www.southernvoice.com/2009/1-23/news/localnews/9700.cfm
LT5000
By BW
January 25, 2009 6:00 PM | Link to this
MHS, if you had read my first comment, you would see not only do I support, but I offered a few suggestions to improve it.
L’Bonehead’T, your comprehension of the lack of enforcement of the state program and what little effect it has and the 287g program making a very little dent in the flow is quite simple, enforce both equally, otherwise the flow continues. The fact you’re are a childish bonehead whiner is the main reason why you’re irrelevant.
By LT5000
January 25, 2009 9:55 PM | Link to this
For Brucie our resident moron.
This year, Cobb County had transferred more than 2,900 inmates to federal agents for deportation as of November. There is one ICE agent assigned to its jail to oversee the work of nine sheriff’s deputies. However, Gwinnett will have 18 deputies and it’s projected to have nearly double the number of deportations, between 4,000 and 6,000.
Yeah Brucie, “just a dent”. I guess 8000 deportations of Illegal Immigrant criminals just doesn’t make a difference.
Brucie has become delusional from his daily combination of Obama worship and dining on Illegal Immigrant chorizos.
LT5000 with the facts.
Brucie with only his ignorance.
By Michael H. Smith
January 25, 2009 10:13 PM | Link to this
If you had read mine BW you would never had gone off on the numerical diatribe or missed this line - “anywhere and everywhere a mentor be.” Which agrees with your last comment previously made.
But don’t worry if old barefoot, hookworm infested, backwater, impoverished hick-town Mayberry, GA can do it, even New York can get it right - times 700,000. :)
In fact Maureen Downey says in her opinion: King would dislike barriers to good schools.
Take away any approval of intentional ethnic re-segregation efforts and I’d say: We live in very different times than MLK or Thurgood Marshall could have dreamt of in the terms of electronic communications as we know them now. In our days the mountain can be brought to Mohammad and so can the “middle class schools” be brought to the lowliest of difficult home environments (precluding child abuse and total neglect).
With the Internet worldwide 24/7/365, conversions to digital TV on the brink of nationwide reality where stations can split one channel into four or even into a possible nine, communication satellites circling constantly around the earth, is there any conceivable reason a quality education cannot be brought to anywhere, at anytime?
Is it objectionable barriers that stand in our way to challenge us or is it our disapproval of too many vast opportunities to better schools, that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would surely take advantage of if he where alive today?
By LT you are an idiot
January 27, 2009 7:48 AM | Link to this
Hey LT, you idiot.
Do you remember back a year ago when you blasted Rick because he wrote that the country was in a recession? Do you remember when you continually insisted that we were all stupid because we didn’t know the text book definition of a recession? Do you remember when you said Warren Buffet was an idiot because he said there was a recession?
*You are an idiot. *
The nation entered into a recession in December 2007, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research.
The NBER, whose Business Cycle Dating Committee makes the official call on when recessions begin, determined that the expansion that began in November 2001 peaked in December 2007.