In the Trenches … Part II

The Philadelphia Sun

May 11, 1997

Nicol Christie

Last week, In the Trenches began to explore volunteering and mentoring. This week we look at the people who touch the lives of other people.

A fourth grader peering over the SAT9 test is frustrated. Wrinkling his brow he studies the question, over and over. Then sighs in despair because he can't read beyond a second grade level. Oh well, on to math. "What is the point?" he wonders. He still hasn't mastered multiplication, and division looks like complete chaos.

These are some of the read frustrations facing students and educators in public school system gone awry. A bleak report of Philadelphia's failing School District by the Philadelphia Inquirer several months ago indicated several problem areas; low student and staff attendance, high student retention, and embarrassingly below average scores in basic math and reading skills.

Perhaps unrelated, yet timely nonetheless, President Clinton recognized a need for domestic relief. Send out the troops he declared. Two weeks ago the President's Summit swept through Philadelphia, giving much needed attention to children and the future of America. President Clinton empowered human service workers, social welfare organizers, children's advocates and citizens to reclaim the American dream by putting the children first. Despite what he called a productive economic year, the president said, " it's not enough." Drugs, inadequate housing and crime are claiming too many children, he said. "I want to redefine the meaning of citizenship in America," the president declared.

The Summit Declaration, signed by President Clinton, former President Carter, Ford, Reagan by Mrs. Nancy Reagan and Bush states: "The challenges of today, especially those that confront our children, require a special commitment of us all. People of all ages and from all walks of life must claim society's problems as their own, pulling together, leading by example, and lifting American lives." "The idea behind AmeriCorps is to instill an ethic of mutual community responsibility," the president told Summiteers. In exchange for a small college tuition stipend, AmeriCorps community servants provide invaluable services. AmeriCorps volunteers receive a smile of thanks, words of gratitude and the internal reward of a "do-good" feeling which has no monetary value.

Haneen Jackson knows firsthand the rewards of community service. Leaning over a desk in a cramped library at Rowen Elementary School, she sees the change the Mikey, a bright kindergartner.

The door leading to this National School and Community Corps (NSCC) hideaway reads, "Don't just tell it like it is, make it what it could be." Funded federally through AmeriCorps and locally by grants and individual school budgets, NSCC's mission of Americans in national service to in crease the capacity of their families, schools and communities to improve their quality of life."

There are currently 17 teams in Philadelphia and two in New York City working through the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. Francine Deal, principal at Pennypacker Elementary School said there's simply not enough money to stretch the program out to the districts' more than 200 schools. "The King Cluster has grant money. We're able to use some of the grant money to purchase what we want," said Deal. Some of the school district's 22 clusters have little or no money for such services.

Despite the inequities, the one-year-old NSCC is a success. "It's a very nice program because it gives us more adults working with students," explained Ronda Silberman, principal of McCloskey Elementary School I Mt. Airy, one of 62 schools receiving NSCC services. "The people we have here are very likable. They are very comfortable going into the classrooms and working with teachers," she said. The lower student/adult ration allows needy students to receive tutoring in math, reading, and science. Frani Houston reads with a small group of students three days a week. Principal Silberman has seen a real improvement. "The people in the Corps make very little money," said Silberman. "The incentive is service."

The NSCC program in Philadelphia has been fitted to the current school reform policy. School Superintendent David Hombeck has outlined a 10 point Children Achieving Agenda which includes developing community schools. "It's basically part of the Children Achieving Agenda," said Deal. "They're being paid a minimal salary, it's basically volunteer work, like the peace corps. Volunteerism can go through any avenue. People just think it's parents coming in the building and that's volunteerism. It's not. It can be anything," said Deal.

The NSCC piece of the school reform puzzle is providing supplementary not replacement services to schools and families. "We don't come in and tell schools what to do," said Samirah Abdul-Fattah, Philadelphia Director of NSCC. Principals and team leaders meet extensively to collaborate on a site plan to fit each school's individual needs. "One thing we let them (schools) know is that we're not here to duplicate anything the school district is doing," said Tony Thurmond Krajewski. "I don't think problems exist because of anything the schools aren't doing," he said.

What schools in Philadelphia are doing is asking for help. With an average class size of at least 30 students, many with special needs, educators can become overwhelmed with the many hats they must wear; teacher, nurse, social worker, tutor, mentor … and the list goes on. Corps workers wear many hats as well.

"Our mission is to serve the children, the community, and the parents through the family center," said Abdul-Fattah. "There's really no limit to what corpsmembers can do."

A panel discussion on crime in North Philadelphia, a dinner in West Oak Lane, a clean up project in Olney, a drama club in Mt. Airy, a warm hug and smile in South Philadelphia, a skating excursion, a trip to the zoo and shooting hoops at the CoreStates Spectrum all fall under the auspices of NSCC and much more.

Michael Melendez, NSCC team leader responsible for schools in the Kings Cluster, said the key to the program's success is its flexibility. "The AmeriCorps or the National Corps is basically a community organization," said Deal. "Their goal is to involve children and to help children in the community."

At Pennypacker, where Frani Houston and Loretta Henry volunteer part-time, the service Corps has been prepping fourth graders for the SAT9 which focuses on math, reading and science. In addition, Houston and Henry help run an after-school tutoring program at the West Oak Lane Free Library. RECAP (Reading Enjoy Competition Apply Perform) grabs the attention of youth learners through games. "I wanted to make a program using games that would be fun; an educational learning activity that motivated children to learn," said Henry who designed RECAP for the NSCC. "This generation will not buckle down and learn unless you make it fun," said Henry. An average of fifteen third and fourth graders gather at the library each day after school.

Linda Baylis appreciates the innovation RECAP has used to help her great-niece Diamonic Swain focuses on her studies. She said Diamonic had been labeled a failure by teachers who said she could not read on a fourth grade level. "Its helps a lot," said Baylis. "It's given her a better attitude…a better environment" to study and do homework three days a week. "I knew she wasn't a failure and I began working on building her self-esteem," said Baylis. "It's getting better now that she's a part of this. She loves this program." Diamonic, a seemingly quiet girl smiled shyly while Baylis talked about her. "I used to fail (spelling) now I get 100s," she said. That's why spelling is her favorite subject.

Grades are not the only signs of improvement. Michael Melendez said, "We've seen a behavior grade improve from twos and threes to ones." A one is excellent and three poor.

Rating the NSCC, educators give an A+. "I just want to publicly thank them for all they have done," said Principal Deal. "It's a marvelous, marvelous addition to our schools."