FIFTH-GRADER MAKES KINDNESS A WAY OF LIFE

During a winter snowstorm, 11-year-old Antowan King waited outside school and noticed that all the teachers' cars were covered with snow.

"I had a piece of cardboard, and I took all the snow off the teachers' cars," Antowan said.

He never planned to tell anyone what he had done, but Dr. Barbara Kohlfeld, Antowan's principal at May Greene Elementary School, spied him from her window and watched as he methodically cleared each car before he quit.

A kindness never reported but greatly appreciated is typical of this fifth grader.

How did he feel when his snow-clearing job was done. "I was cold," Antowan said, curious that his good deed had generated any attention at all.

"I always tell him, he's going to be president," said Kohlfeld. "He's going to be one heck of a human being when he grows up."

Antowan has the responsibility of seeing that his younger brother, Dontay, who is 6, gets safely to and from school. He also helps walk three younger cousins home from school. He deals with the youngsters patiently and takes his responsibility seriously.

In fact, Antowan is often his young brother's protector. Not long ago, Dontay got into a fight and ended up with a bloody nose. Antowan brought the bleeding brother to the school office. After Kohlfeld got a wet towel, Antowan took it from her and cared for his brother himself. He stayed with Dontay until he was safely delivered to their mother.

Antowan thinks he might want to be a police officer when he grows up. Police officers, after all, help people every day.

But his fifth-grade teacher, Janet Wigfall, says Antowan should become president of a corporation -- and hire her as his first employee.

Wigfall lists Antowan's attributes: fair, patient, slow to anger, diplomatic, helpful.

"He is very kind to new students who come into the classroom," Wigfall said. "He is willing to share with them and befriend them."

Often Antowan serves as the class mediator, helping other 11-year-olds avoid arguments. "He's going to be a leader," she said.

Antowan isn't perfect, Wigfall said. "He's a typical child, but when he gets into trouble he takes responsibility," Wigfall said. Often children try to make excuses for their misbehavior or blame it on someone else. Not Antowan. "He is genuinely sorry and learns from his mistakes."

Antowan says he likes being kind but really never thought about the good feelings he leaves in his wake. Wigfall said, "He doesn't do these things expecting anything in return. He does them just because he is Antowan."