Page 101 - TheGoldBug1969-70

April 27, 1970 the gold bug page 5 Hinge tutors serve as big brothers and sisters by Paula Ottinger programmer "The black kids and the whtte kids In my class are hav- ing a war .' said Anne. "And I'll beat up anybody who bot- hers ma-o-smack 'em in the face." Anne Is a black fourth grader at Robert Moton School. Already, at ten years old, she puts on a hard front. She's I'm looking for a programmer big for her age, sturdy and strong. She's intelligent, but needs help In certain subjects, so she has a Hinge tutor, familiar with the 1800 series Donna. "Anne is belligerent and militant on theoutside," says Donna. "She's defensive about being black, and the who is willing to invest his spare 'war' in her school. But Inside she's soft. She needs re- time to help form computer . assurance and arrectton ... We like each other." It's Friday afternoon, and Anne and Donna don't feel sharing company. Iflate nights, much like working. Working--that means arithmetic, probably multiplication. So Instead they read some library hard work and unlimited poten- books Donna has brought. Reading isn'tdlIficultfor Anne: tial appeal to you, call Frank she reads well for a fourth grader, and Donna chooses books that w11l be enjoyable so that learning new words White at and sounds won't become a chore. After half an hour the sunshine gets to them both and they go over to the housing project parkinglot.There are five or six other Hinge tutors there with their kids , and 848-4400 or 848-7803 they aU get into a game of dodge-ball. In a few minutes most of the kids in the neighborhood are in the circle. Many of them have Hinge tutors who come on some other day of the week, It Is obvious that everybody is having a ATTENTION good time. The companionship, as much as the scholastic Travel Reservation -agenr , no experience,for help, makes Hinge important and valuable. In many cases, National Student Travel Industry, to handle Hinge serves almost the same role as Big Brothers or Marketing and Reservation in student location, Big Sisters would, especially when a close relationship able to assume responsibility through 1971,('0- is estabUshed between the tutor and his student. "One day, about two weeks ago," Donna explained, operative ownership & stock exchange available. "Anne and I had a really long talk. Anne initiated it all. REQUEST_lNFORMA nON We talked about race relations, about war, about drugs-- INTER-CAMPUS ASSOCIATES anything she wanted to br tng up.Lw as amazed at the depth of ttnnjdng; she's only ten, but she's aware of all these pro- b 11 BERKELY AVENUE BALTIMORE, MD. 21209 blems. We didn't get any SChool work done that day, but that's not important. We got to know each other. It's one TIle tutors often become companions to the children. or the test uevs t've ever had." Hinge co-leader Woody Merkle and tutee. Parent reacts favorably to Hinge tutors' efforts; Hinge trying to to transport tutors to homes Each week, under project Hinge, approximately fifty WMC students tutor about fifty children ranging in age from kindergarten to ninth grade. Two times a week each tutor visits his assigned child at his home in Westminster. Most children live within the area bordered by Charles street, Center Street, and Green Street. A one-to-one basis is established as the ratio between tutors and Children. Besides tutoring, other activities are planned. Some- times the tutors accompany the children to the library or just let them play. Occasionally the children are in- vited to special events by the tutor.s, An arts and crafts program was supposed to be offered but there were not enough people interested to support one. A major event this year was the Christmas party. Hinge leaders are John Skinner, John Crooms, and Woody Merkle. This year they have been trying to earn money for a bus. Volunteer drivers now transport tutors to the children's homes, At the beginning of the year Hinge owned an old bus In conjunction with S,O.S.; however, the bus broke down. Repairs would have been more than the original cost of $200. A new bus has not been purchased because there are presently not enough " funds. Hinge's most recent effort to raise money was the bake sale held at the shopping center on April 11. Operation Hinge: I feel this program is going to be'~~~ Response to Hinge from the parents of the children is successfuL. Dave Buller and tutee. ravoi able. One mother says that she has heard only good s.o.s. about the program experience Her own reaction very ed- and there from is high anticipation and parents, both children is that it for the children, is a "wonderful ucational, even for us. Those that have come in have (Continued from Page4) been very considerate and inspirational." She feels the tutors are "sacrificial where time is concerned. It is or poverty area and bring the poor natives up out of the depths of their misery by showing them the great white hard"for students to come into the home of a large family way. Tbfs conception of a se rvtce onawhite horse to save and get the child's attentionamongalltheactivity." This the world is flatly denied by members of S,O.S. Instead, particular mother has twelve children. She goes on to say, their goal Is to go into an area to work and Jive with the "Their Intentions are good. They do anything they think Idea of establishing a meanIngful relationship or com- Is going to be beneficial to the children." Her own child "knows he's going to be studying and munIcation between two people of different cultural back- pleasure comes afterward." As a result of the program, grounds. Sue Schmidt nicely summed up this ccnceptton of S.O.S. when she said that her summer with S.O.s. "His interest is more deep-set. He is concerned and "wasn't a particularly noble summer" but that she will thrilled when he finds his grades are better than they never be able to forget the satisfaction and happiness of were." She feels, "It is fruitful because the tutor Is just getting to know the people she lived with. This kind able to grasp on to the type of child he is. Different to adjust; however, methods make it hard for children of approach must be a very Individualistic thing because after awhile they are able to understand each other." no two people communicate exactly alike. Now her child "has the ability to grasp onto more." S.O.S., the organization, must make Itself flexible enough The tutors often become companions to the children. to meet the needs of each individual while simultaneously The mother interviewed said, "My children look forward provtdtng group strength where It is needed and desired. to their coming. Students often stay in contact with the This flexibility would e ltml nate most of the surface tension that has developed In the past two years. With a new or- children after they leave school. The children are very ganization that permits the realization of the goals of Its eager to see the old tutors w' ) come back." members, S.O.S. could continue to protvde WMCstudents She concludes, "I feel this program is going to be with this unique opportunity to participate In a creative very successful because these are obstacles they're living experience. (the tutors) goiog;to face on the outside."