THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 31, 1996 TAG: 9603290179
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Ida Kay's Portsmouth
SOURCE: Ida Kay Jordan
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
Partners in Education is a straight-forward name for a straight-forward program with great potential, not only for making the public schools better, but it also offers citizens a way to expand their minds and hearts to help the community - a feel-good thing, to put it in the vernacular.
Wednesday, some of those who already are working as volunteers with the schools got together to talk about their projects and to exchange ideas. Some of those who spoke are not even connected with the formal Partners programs. They just do their own volunteer work with the schools.
The variety was amazing.
Employees of the Naval Shipyard, long active with the schools, now counsel and tutor kids at Emily Spong School. For years, the shipyard also has promoted its apprentice program with a pre-apprentice project in the local public schools.
Central Fidelity Bank is a partner of Churchland Elementary, doing whatever needs to be done. But this past year, they branched out to give the youngsters something special when they had a student competition to design Christmas cards for the bank.
The guys at the Naval School of Health and Sciences at the hospital here work with Mount Herman Elementary, giving not only time with the children but also refinishing furniture, landscaping and buying books.
Five black, male prosecutors in the commonwealth's attorney's office are offering themselves as role models for children at S.H. Clarke, where many have no positive adult male influences in their lives.
``We hope to touch them in some way,'' Mike Massey said Wednesday.
So do the folks at Portsmouth General and Coast Guardsmen who have been volunteering at the schools for years.
Donald Sandie, a retired judge active in the Merrimac Kiwanis Club, said he has been going to the DAC Center for a number of years to work with young children who have problems.
Every Thursday, he said, he takes his hand puppet and goes to the center to read to the pre-kindergarten tots. This week, the Merrimac club will hold its annual Easter egg hunt for the children.
``It's really enjoyable, and there are so many things you can do when you adopt a school and get to know them,'' Sandie said.
And Portsmouth YMCA Director BennGriffin reported that the Y staff was giving swimming lessons to more than 70 fourth-graders at S.H. Clarke.
``After three or four classes, we see the self-esteem and confidence beginning to build,'' Griffin said.
Cradock Middle School Principal Butch Morgan said dealing with volunteers is a ``growth process'' that gives school personnel and students ``the feeling someone cares.''
``It's really not the money they give,'' Morgan said. ``It's the labor of love.''
The volunteers come from many places, such as the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, an adult Greek organization; the Elfins, a group of GE retirees; the Portsmouth Police Department; the Optimist Club and other civic organizations; the Panhellenic Council and some churches, such as the retired teachers group at Green Acres Presbyterian.
But more are needed.
Don Campbell, a retired GE executive and chairman of the education committee of the Portsmouth Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, said the program works two ways: ``We help the schools prepare students to meet the needs of business and military groups.''
In Campbell's opinion, Portsmouth has had good cooperation - as far as it's gone.
But, he told me, we need to get the word out to more people.
``I think we need to get ideas out into the community because many people don't know what they can do to help the schools.''
Actually, people can do as much or as little as they have time for. A retired individual may go once a week to read to children while a person who works most of the time school is in session might have to participate once or twice a year - in a weekend project to landscape a campus, for example.
Those who have free time late in the day could help organize special clubs or Scout troops or a Junior Achievement project.
``This really is a way we all can help make the schools better and do something for the community,'' Campbell said.
Every school needs some help. To offer your services, call 397-3453 or 393-8743. by CNB