loving art, science and creative kids

On Top of It All          

 When you’ve worked through life’s pitfalls to achieve most     

of  your goals, it is time to help someone else do the same.      

 3 D Mixed media on canvas/ Wood frame/ 23” x 19” / $399

The Mentor

School does not bode well for those who find it difficult to sit still, and, from time-to-time, that’s the case for all students. I’ve listened to kids complain about academic subjects they say are boring and non-essential. They consider homework to be busywork that is irrelevant for their future, yet have no idea what that future might be.  Permissive parents go along with their complaints and provide late notes when they sleep in or miss a day of school. According to Patrick Gabriel in an article for school superintendents, this attitude contributes to a poor work ethic. They drop out of school and are lackadaisical in their jobs, wondering why they don’t get the raise they assume they deserve. Many young people are confused and don’t want to put in hours of hard work necessary to meet graduation requirements. For those going for an advanced degree, the six-year graduation rate for full-time undergraduate students at a 4 year degree-granting program is only 60 percent according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Institutions with open admissions policies find that only 32 percent graduate. 

For democracy to succeed it’s important for everyone to be educated and hopefully enjoy learning for its own sake. To do so, a variety of teaching approaches are available to address the variety of ways students learn. In the hands of the right teacher, tactile and auditory methods are just as effective as the written word. This method requires  individualized education plans which would be extremely expensive if paid instructors were the only resource. There are other ways.

Last week, I received an email from a woman who told me of her mentor, a person extremely  important to her professional and personal growth. Her comment reminded me that throughout my student years, I too had advisors to inspire and guide me.  In elementary school, Ms. Dorothea, my dancing instructor filled that role. Not only did she show me the benefits to controlling how I moved, but she demonstrated the importance of doing so with purpose and grace. “Pretty fingers” she said to her class of ballerinas as we pranced around the studio acting like we belonged to the New York City Ballet. 

Mrs. Lambert, my high school english teacher was the first of many mentors to inspire my love of literature.  By letting us read books of our own choosing during class  time, we read voraciously tales in every genre. We weren’t pressured to  analyze and dissect our readings, but by devouring so many books we  absorbed a craving for those that were well written.  Classmates and I hovered around her desk after class, occasionally visiting her home, anxious to absorb bits of knowledge flung in our direction. 

In college, I enrolled in anthropology classes and fell under the spell a female professor. It was the first time I came into contact with an adventurous woman who traveled fearlessly to out of the way places. My, how I wanted to be like her! She was accepted in primitive villages despite differences in customs and values, and she never imposed personal biases. This professor helped me understand that each person views the world from his or her own center. The way a society operates is complex and should not always be judged by western values.

When starting Impression 5 Science Museum in Lansing, Michigan, I  sat next to a successful real estate developer at a luncheon for non-profit organizations. He advised me to not wait for everything to fall into place if I wanted to achieve my goal of starting a museum.  He told me to look for cracks in walls and move through them without hesitation. “Grab the moment when it presents itself,” he said, “for it may never occur again. It’s not likely that everyone will be in agreement as you forge a new field. There are times when you have to take action to demonstrate the way forward.”

My mentors were generous with their time. They listened to my concerns and helped me achieve my goals. Now that I’m older, I make myself available to others who might benefit by my experience. I’ve assisted several women with their businesses, helped a boy overcome homelessness and assisted an immigrant adapt to life in the states. It’s challenging to listen to others without letting my biases take over.  But, helping people achieve  goals they set for themselves is what a good coach does. Mentors help them think through ways to solve their problems. They provide contacts, may open a new line of reasoning but above all help their mentee build self-esteem. 

Considering how many youth struggle in traditional  classrooms, I suggest a mentor be assigned to every student. All children, but especially those from dysfunctional families, will benefit from individualized attention. No parent can be all things to each of their offspring. There are times when an aunt, uncle or caring tutor is well suited to step in. 

If I was the potentate of schools and could wave a magic wand, I’d  call on patriotism to establish an army of mentors. 

 I’d ask retirees and young adults to entice, tantalize and inspire a youth to work hard and take pleasure in learning. Carpenters, plumbers, bakers, electricians, auto mechanics, health professionals, artists, business men and women as well as those with an academic bent can play a role. Let’s rid ourselves of the notion that everyone learns in the same way and discover how each mentee thinks.

Lastly, mentors can not be thrown into the lion’s den and expected to survive. They deserve to receive training. The purpose of mentoring is to build basic life skills, self-confidence, academic success and resiliency and they will need help when there are bumps in the road. Please don’t imagine mentoring a student to be an entirely altruistic activity, for mentors usually receive as much as they give. They make lifetime friends with their students who in turn help them “think young” and stay tuned to the world as it is evolving for the next generation.

References:

Gewertz.K  2019. There are Now More High Schools with Low Graduation Rates. Why? Education Week. retrieved from http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/high_school_and_beyond/2018/06/there_are_now_more_high_schools_with_low_graduation_rates_why.html?

Education News (2018) Crisis Point: The State of Literacy in America. Concordia University. retrieved from  https://education.cu-portland.edu/blog/education-news-roundup/illiteracy-in-america/

Wexler, N. (2018) Why American Students Haven’t gotten Better at Reading in 20 Years. The Atlantic. retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2018/04/-american-students-reading/557915/

Gabriel Jr. P. ( 2018) Has the Student Work Ethic Lost Its Way? The School Superintendents Association (AASA). retrieved from http://www.aasa.org/SchoolAdministratorArticle.aspx?id=17494

Selling,J. (2018) Why do So many students drop out of college and what can be done about it? Washington Post. retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2018/06/08/why-do-so-many-students-drop-out-of-college-and-what-can-be-done-about-it/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.e4abb6903db0

National Center for Education Statistics (2018) Fast Facts. retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=40

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