Organic Expansion Of After-School Tutoring Program What to do when your little after-school writing program struggles but then gets really big? In this video sent to me by a friend, author and part-time philanthropist Dave Eggers describes the process -- and what comes next:
What jumps out from the talk is the organic nature of the Eggers
project, its use of humor and "found" talents and interests, its open
admissions about struggles and luck, and its ad hoc growth. Such a
stark contrast to some of the current crop of "mistake- free"
corporate-feeling initiatives, and yet not obviously any less
effective. Cross-posted from TWIE.
Digg
Del.icio.us
Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 9:08 PM
Organic Expansion Of After-School Tutoring Program
If you don't want to watch Eggers speak but see how he'd like us all to volunteer in our local schools, check out his "wishsite" Once Upon a School though I highly recommend his speech--you have to see how his tutoring center got set up and the great things that have come of it. Especially if you find pirates funny.
What I like about what Eggers is doing--and what I like about what I hear and see from the young people I meet through my work who are about to join TFA, or the Peace Corps--is that there is a sense of hope. And not just for the kids who will benefit from this involvement, but the hope these people--these visionaries, these volunteers--have to make a difference in the bigger picture--that these opportunities aren't just beneficial for the tutor-ees, but the tutors themselves. And it's not some feel-good bs but tangible extensions of their creativity, skill sets, passions, and gifts.
The giddiness and humor of Eggers tutoring center has been so lacking in my own kid's education (and, certainly, my own). She would not be considered "at-risk" (despite having only one parent around) but man, she could sure use some cool adult who is as passionate about writing as she is spend some one on one time with her. She has had one amazing teacher, a couple of pretty good ones, and has spent the last 3 years in a fine suburban school district, but the energy apparent in Eggers endeavor has been sorely lacking (and she's taken classes and camps and all that...but again, there is a lack of enthusiasm that seems to surround most educational experiences). We may just have to trek down to the 826 Tutoring Center...
And then I come to this blog and see so much vitriol and anger (justified, I know) and it irritates me. There is SO much wrong with the system--from the top down and back up again--that I'm practically paralyzed with the immensity of it--but Eggers and his ilk are DOING SOMETHING. There are groups of people, despite everything, who are TRYING TO DO SOMETHING GOOD. And we think it's the residency requirement that's keeping good teachers out of CPS? Please.
And listening to Eggers makes me irritated with myself too. I regret that I didn't, nor was I ever encouraged, to find my passion and then allow it to be a springboard to doing the more philanthropic work. But he also inspires me to think that maybe it's not too late.
Sorry for the ramble. It's been a weird year for me. I think sometimes we hunker down into our own lives never to emerge. A variety of circumstances has forced me to lift my head, and I find myself questioning so much of what I assumed that isn't, what I thought would never change but did, and being repeatedly surprised at how my whole outlook is shifting. Perhaps it's just an impending mid-life crisis...
What I like about what Eggers is doing--and what I like about what I hear and see from the young people I meet through my work who are about to join TFA, or the Peace Corps--is that there is a sense of hope. And not just for the kids who will benefit from this involvement, but the hope these people--these visionaries, these volunteers--have to make a difference in the bigger picture--that these opportunities aren't just beneficial for the tutor-ees, but the tutors themselves. And it's not some feel-good bs but tangible extensions of their creativity, skill sets, passions, and gifts.
The giddiness and humor of Eggers tutoring center has been so lacking in my own kid's education (and, certainly, my own). She would not be considered "at-risk" (despite having only one parent around) but man, she could sure use some cool adult who is as passionate about writing as she is spend some one on one time with her. She has had one amazing teacher, a couple of pretty good ones, and has spent the last 3 years in a fine suburban school district, but the energy apparent in Eggers endeavor has been sorely lacking (and she's taken classes and camps and all that...but again, there is a lack of enthusiasm that seems to surround most educational experiences). We may just have to trek down to the 826 Tutoring Center...
And then I come to this blog and see so much vitriol and anger (justified, I know) and it irritates me. There is SO much wrong with the system--from the top down and back up again--that I'm practically paralyzed with the immensity of it--but Eggers and his ilk are DOING SOMETHING. There are groups of people, despite everything, who are TRYING TO DO SOMETHING GOOD. And we think it's the residency requirement that's keeping good teachers out of CPS? Please.
And listening to Eggers makes me irritated with myself too. I regret that I didn't, nor was I ever encouraged, to find my passion and then allow it to be a springboard to doing the more philanthropic work. But he also inspires me to think that maybe it's not too late.
Sorry for the ramble. It's been a weird year for me. I think sometimes we hunker down into our own lives never to emerge. A variety of circumstances has forced me to lift my head, and I find myself questioning so much of what I assumed that isn't, what I thought would never change but did, and being repeatedly surprised at how my whole outlook is shifting. Perhaps it's just an impending mid-life crisis...
Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 7:32 AM
Organic Expansion Of After-School Tutoring Program
I enjoyed the above comment tremendously. One of the reasons that enthusiasm and passion is lacking in most eductional settings is that it appears to be threatening to those around it that can't share it. So, by slow process or by quick rejection, it is shut out. I had a principal tell me once that my passion and hard work makes the other teachers look bad and thus I should curb enthusiasm and work less.
Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 9:22 PM
Organic Expansion Of After-School Tutoring Program
Thank you belief. I couldn't agree with you more--that amazing teacher I mentioned my kid having? She got the same message from her principal that you did. She no longer teaches in Chicago. Which is a pity. On so many levels.
I hope you haven't curbed your enthusiasm. You are so needed. And appreciated.
I hope you haven't curbed your enthusiasm. You are so needed. And appreciated.
Wed Mar 26, 2008 at 9:19 AM
Organic Expansion Of After-School Tutoring Program
Wow- Ms. G's comments are right on- and I rarely if ever comment on this blog because I get so sick and tired of the whinning and complaining- I have even stopped reading the blog regularly- DO SOMETHING to improve our schools instead of blaming the CTU, CPS, Teachers, Principals, charter schools, Business etc.
Seriously- do something that DIRECTLY helps a child- if we all did that- it would be a step in the right direction!
Seriously- do something that DIRECTLY helps a child- if we all did that- it would be a step in the right direction!
Wed Mar 26, 2008 at 9:22 AM
Organic Expansion Of After-School Tutoring Program
if you're frustrated with the blame game and looking for direct and positive action, there's always doing some volunteering for kids or helping out at a school. or donorschoose.org, where you can give money and know it will go directly to a classroom project (that you choose). last but not least, you can fight against the despair on this site and remind us about being positive and forward-looking. don't just write us off.
-- alexander
-- alexander
