Teens helping teens

Beta Club members at Cape Girardeau Central High School are doing their best to lend a helping hand to classmates who are struggling.

John Kiefner, a sophomore whose self-styled major is "awesomeness," said the idea to launch a student-led tutoring program began in November and launched officially in February.

It's called Tutoring Tuesdays and takes place in the school's Tiger Den.

Kiefner mostly helps fellow students with issues they have on social studies and English assignments, but when questions arise outside those areas, he tries to find someone else to explain the tricky parts.

"Some people had questions on sociology, and I hadn't taken sociology, so I went and got someone who had taken the course," Kiefner said.

Brad Orenstein, president of the Beta Club at Cape Girardeau Central High School, tutors Leo Chen after school Tuesday as Chen prepares for an ACT exam.Fred Lynch

Julie Stausing, an English teacher and Beta Club adviser at the high school, said the idea for the tutoring program came up during a leadership convention at Southeast Missouri State University.

Because the high school had a math-tutoring program but nothing formal for other subjects, the Beta Club members decided to spearhead one as part of their community service motto, "Let us lead by serving others."

Plus, the group agreed it would be easier for struggling learners to get help from fellow students.

And Beta Club members aren't just any students. To be in the group, they are required to have an 8.5 GPA or higher, which means a "B" average up to the maximum of 12.

Of the approximately 1,100 students at Central High, 80 are members of the Beta Club.

Brad Orenstein, right, president of the Beta Club at Cape Girardeau Central High School, tutors Leo Chen after school Tuesday as Chen prepares for an ACT exam.Fred Lynch

"So these are the best students (in school)," Stausing said.

At any given time, 15 club members are signed up on an as-needed basis to tutor in subjects they consider their best.

Andrea Diamond, a sophomore who has been in the Beta Club for two years and who also serves as the group's treasurer, specializes in math and science tutoring -- mainly honors chemistry and algebra.

"I like helping students to be better than they are," she said.

Part of the challenge for many students who struggle is not getting enough one-on-one time with teachers in larger classes.

Beta Club member Michael Hwang, left, tutors Patrick Buck in algebra after school Tuesday at Cape Girardeau Central High School.Fred Lynch

"Big classes make it harder to get help on individual questions," Diamond said, and she could relate to getting lost at times.

Brent Tiemann, a junior and vice president of the club, is one of the students who helped come up with the idea for the tutoring program in November.

He helps classmates tackle social studies, math and science problems.

"I've really enjoyed doing the tutoring," he said. "It's awesome."

Tiemann said his ultimate goal is to make sure Tutoring Tuesdays continues to grow long after he graduates because he feels it was a needed enrichment tool.

Like Diamond, he wasn't afraid to admit he also has to make an extra effort from time to time.

"We struggle, too," he said.

ljones@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3652

Pertinent address:

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