Hays Porter Washburn Elementary
Co-Mentoring/Co-Tutoring
by Kent Wellington

"No child left behind? Here's one."

You've probably read about recent student progress with "No Child Left Behind" initiatives and improved graduation rates in our city public schools. That's great news. However, the reality is that thousands of kids in our inner city schools are still in "academic emergency" and are still getting left behind. Far behind.

In fact, there's about 4,000 - 5,000 kids in Cincinnati's inner city public schools and charter schools who are in real educational crises. Teetering on the cusp of success and failure. At age 10.

For the past six years, I've mentored and tutored a 10-year-old at Hays Porter Washburn Elementary (HPWE). My little guy is a good kid with two parents at home. But he continues to struggle with reading, math, history, etc. despite being held back once already. He's frustrated. The parents are good people, but they are ill-equipped to get their son caught up, let alone cut through institutional red tape and additional tutoring. The parents also are frustrated. Without outside help, Angelo and his parents don't have a chance.

Apportioning blame or pointing fingers is a waste of time and energy. Finding some people who can make a little time to help mentor or tutor Angelo is not. That's my pitch. We need a team of people to share the load and help a kid who is slipping through the cracks. One half-hour a week or every other week will make a difference. We'll help with the logistics. HPWE is located in Over-the-Rhine in the old Sands Montessori Building. Free parking is available out front and tutoring can be done during the school day or in an after-school program.

If that doesn't work-out, we've got Rodney and De'Vante at another downtown school…Cerano at another…and thousands of other kids in the same boat who preciously need some of your precious time. But they don't need a lot of time. Every little bit helps. Every exposure to responsible, caring adults who talk about reading, math, college, jobs, and hope helps counter their usual mentors and role models on the streets who don't talk about any of these things.

Are you ready to join a team and get in the game? If interested in learning more about co-mentoring or co-tutoring opportunities with Angelo or other kids at HPWE or other inner city schools, please contact HPWE mentor coordinator Darlene Bowman (at 475-4148, bow2@fuse.net ) or me (Kent Wellington, at 484-2812, welk@graydon.com ).