Role models and friends

Rob Garner isn't going to college to be a teacher.

The senior at Southeast Missouri State University is seeking a degree in advertising, but that hasn't stopped him from volunteering his time helping kids at Franklin Elementary School.

Garner, a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, is one of the volunteers from the university involved in the Adopt-A-School program sponsored by Caring Communities and the Southeast Greek system. The program is currently only offered at Franklin because the school is close to the university and its number of volunteers.

Adopt-A-School provides elementary children with a role model and friend while leaving college students like Garner with a feeling they have done something to help a child in need.

"Some of the kids don't come from the best backgrounds and are starving for attention," said Garner, who volunteers at the school for about an hour each week. "I like to walk away knowing the kids are looking forward to me coming back the next week."

Garner and the other students from the university spend time with children like kindergartner Cyrus Mills working on art projects, schoolwork or playing at recess.

Mills said he loves when Garner comes to visit because he knows he is going to have fun, especially when Garner pushes him on the swings.

Rhonda Dunham, principal at Franklin, said the biggest benefit of the Adopt-A-School program is the opportunity for students to have a positive role model, especially a male one.

Of 45 volunteers, more than half are men, which is important at Franklin because there are no male teachers on staff.

For sixth-grader DerRon Harrison, whose father is dead, it is nice to have a man he can talk to and joke around with. "I'm surrounded by girls every day," DerRon said. "I can't get away from them, so it's cool when the guys from the college come over and hang out."

Matt Smith, site coordinator for Caring Communities at Franklin Elementary, said the Adopt-A-School program increases the students' self-esteem and improves their grades, and benefits the college students too.

"The program isn't meant to provide teachers' aides to grade papers or make photocopies," Smith said. "It gives the college students the chance to give back to the community and make a new friend at the same time."

Began in 1998

The program was started in Cape Girardeau in 1998 at Franklin Elementary because teachers were in need of tutors and classroom helpers, said Smith.

In the three years the program has been at Franklin, Smith said, attendance has increased, the student's grades have improved and the self-esteem has risen among the children.

Dunham, who is at Franklin for the first year after spending several years at Jefferson Elementary, said she has noticed a significant difference in the behavior and attitudes of the older children since the college kids have been coming into the school.

"It's now cool to have someone help you with your homework," Dunham said. "To just have this program in one school is a mistake. If it were spread out, we would see a lot of benefits throughout the district."

hkronmueller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128