That's an interesting idea. When my daughter was in high school, she needed help with algebra. I was horrible at it. I called the local junior college, and they had a list of tutors. The girl I hired was great, and my daughter got through algebra.

You might want to include something like this as part of your plan.

Sounds like a great way for the coming generation to learn many specifics from experienced people without that feeling of being "pushed" that often turns off young people, working on their budding independence ... especially when it comes from authority figures in their lives, e.g. parents and teachers.

A couple of years ago we formed a group within our church congregation to meet once or twice a month to investigate and discuss a number of topics dealt with in our monthly denominational magazine ... and I've found that I've got to know the others in that group in a much deeper, multi-faceted way than with most others that I know in my life, and have developed a feeling of warmth and affection for them more than for most folks.

ole joyfuelled

Oh, there are plenty of tutors for hire. There are also aides for students who have various impairments. This is different from that, and different from sweet volunteers who bake cookies, help decorate for events, etc. The students evidence a lot of respect for these 'elders', who give their time and share their life skills simply because they want to give the kids a better chance in life and a wider perspective.

The Seniors also come away with new respect for teachers -- and for today's young people. Win/Win.

That sounds like a great program and something I would enjoy if there were something similar in my area. I don't know of one.

A friend volunteered for a mentorship program for HS students in a low income area of town. The goal was to provide direction and set an example for students who had the potential of going on to college but whose parents themselves had very limited education and little money.

She wound up quitting the program after two years, concluding that the district was more concerned with the appearance rather than the substance of the program. Because of that, she felt little was actually accomplished.

Wow, that sounds like a worthy, well-run program. I haven't heard of anything like that around me. But then, I haven't looked. I'm more of a 'bake cookies and run' sort of person.

Great idea. I wish out local schools had a similar program.

Actually, OUR high school doesn't have this program, it's in a neighboring town. DH tried to talk to our school district about starting this. Administrators seemed to resist 'outsiders' coming into the schools...afraid they'd be "spying" on them? Some teachers within the program have not chosen to use Grand Times, perhaps fearing they would have to create lesson plans involving the volunteers, or that their authority would be undermined.

I think one reason Grand Times works is because it doesn't require intensive *mentoring*, pairing a Senior with a student over the long haul. It's not Big Brother or Sister. It's not CASA. It's not working with 'the disadvantaged'. It's supplemental help to facilitate learning within regular classrooms.

I admire the whole attitude of this other town. It cultivates a sense of 'Community'. The churches and synagogues, the schools, the police and 'city fathers' are all vocal about *inclusion*. They've deliberately taken that tack instead of letting social differences divide them.

This is an old school district. Some of the volunteers graduated from it, had kids graduate, have grandchildren attending. Over two hundred grandparents attend the annual spring Grandparents Day, coming from all over -- or walking two blocks. There's a large Jewish population, a long-established Italian-American population, and a more recently added Hispanic population. There are mansions. There are families renting small quarters.

Wonderful, Chisue! I don't think we have anything like that in my community.

Way back when I was teaching, I had a fellow who was referred to my class via a volunteer "Foster Grandparents" program. It was wonderful for me, for him, and of course for the kiddies. Unfortunately, after I left to have a baby I heard he was hit while riding his bike, as he did when he came to help me, and died. I sometimes hear older retired folks complain that they are bored and lonely but one phone call can change that! Thanks for posting, Chisue.