GROW YOUR OWN WORTHY INVESTMENT IN STUDENTS

Developing qualified minority teachers is the worthwhile goal of a home-grown program that will be implemented in the coming school year.

The project, called "Grow Your Own," was initiated by the Professional Black Men's Club to encourage talented minority students to become teachers in the Cape Girardeau Public Schools.

The idea is a sound one that will hopefully take root.

The project involves not only the minority students and the school district, but Southeast Missouri State University as well.

Under the plan, talented minority students in the Cape Girardeau school system would be guaranteed scholarships to attend Southeast, with club members serving as mentors for the selected students. The club will fund scholarships of at least $1,000 for participating students who complete high school and agree to enter Southeast's teacher education program.

Those who successfully complete the teacher education program at Southeast are guaranteed a teaching job in the Cape Girardeau Public Schools, provided they agree to teach in the system at least four years.

The students benefit by being guaranteed jobs. The school system and the community will benefit from having more minority teachers in the classrooms.

The program will eventually target minority students in the eighth grade. But initially the program will target high school juniors, with five or six students expected to be selected.

Additional students will be selected in succeeding years.

Members of the Professional Black Men's Club will meet with the kids and serve as role models for the youngsters, providing motivational support.

This program is not a handout. Only talented, deserving students those with a B grade average or better will be selected. After all, the school district and the community want good, minority teachers, not just minority teachers.

Such teachers will, in turn, serve as role models for Cape Girardeau's minority youth. They can have an enormous impact on the future academic endeavors of such students.

In an era when too many people look to Uncle Sam or the state capitol to solve social and community problems, it's refreshing to see local citizens and institutions taking the initiative. It's that local leadership that will provide the fertile foundation needed to make this program blossom.