Through Chicago's Family Focus, Boys Find Role Models

nytimes.com:

For children in blighted neighborhoods, going to college can seem an impossible goal, especially when just making it through grade school is a challenge.

Rodzae James, 11, knows his neighborhood is rough, but he feels lucky to have a couple of good role models. “I look up to my brother because he was the first boy on my block to go to college,” he said.

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Comments

[Hlynn]

01:26 AM on 06/06/2011

What an uplifting article! This is time and money well spent. I hope there will be more and more programs like this across the nation, and not only for boys.

This is what so many teachers have been saying for years: there need to be adults who can guide and mentor children if their parents can't or won't. Teachers can only do so much of that and teach at the same time. Plus, the classes are too big to know each child well.

A small group of children with an adult who will listen,give advice, and be a role model to emulate is the simple kind of intervention many children need to turn their lives in a positive direction.