George Rebane

[This is the submitted form of my May column in the 14may11 Union (here).]

The classroom format of teaching requires that students are in a more or less tight group as far as progress and learning ability are concerned.  The larger the class, the less chance the teacher has to bring along the slower learners and individually challenge the faster ones.  As a consequence both ends suffer when teaching resources are limited.

With today’s economy and government cutbacks in the headlines, we have just such a situation in our public schools.  To help alleviate this, a couple of years back the Sierra Environmental Studies Foundation (SESF is a 501c3 non-profit organization) launched the TechMentor project to introduce qualified mentors and tutors to high school students in science and math classes.  The aim is to provide science and math teachers in Nevada County with an expanded resource of qualified individuals to tutor students and mentor them in the various school science projects.

A TechMentor relationship starts with the classroom teacher contacting SESF or Mr John McDaniel, NUHS physics teacher and head of the TechTest Scholarship Committee.  (TechTest is SESF’s annual merit scholarship exam taken by Nevada County high school seniors who are headed for careers in science and technology.  Scholarships are awarded strictly on test scores.  Juniors can take TechTest for practice.)   Mr McDaniel then gives SESF the teacher contact information and student requirements, and we go to work finding one or more candidates who can fill the bill.  The mentor/tutor candidate is then identified and put in contact with the teacher.  The teacher makes the final determination as to the suitability of the candidate, and sets up the work program with the student.

As SESF’s research director I have been overseeing the TechTest and TechMentor programs.  Recently I was contacted by Mr Joe Limov, Principal of the Seven Hills School.  He was interested in the TechMentor program and told of the need for an expanded version of it that would allow students in the earlier grades to participate.  I met with Mr Limov to tell him more about TechMentor and learn about how SESF could help.

Mr Limov, who is now working on the 2011-12 school year plan and master schedule, said that Seven Hills alone will have ten to fifteen students who would benefit from a TechMentor program appropriately directed to the younger student.  The need is greatest in math (arithmetic) tutoring.

So here dear reader is where you come in.  In Nevada County many of us already participate in activities that benefit the community.   Our large population of retired people supplies qualified and energetic folks who do much as community volunteers through the various churches and charitable organizations in the county.  This is an invitation for you to consider working with a young person to help him/her master the skills which you already have.

Being proficient in arithmetic is fundamental to becoming a numerate person, whether or not you go on to a technical career.   Many kids are turned away from technology-based careers because of difficulties in early grades.  They grow up advertizing themselves as ‘not doing numbers.’

In many cases an early intervention by a knowledgeable and caring tutor or mentor would have changed such a life track at an age where such changes can be made, and opened up a world of possibilities.  All it takes is for someone to give of their time and their talent.  And in such efforts almost always both tutor and student ‘win’, and so does our community and our country.

When we step back and take a look at the future of America’s economy in the 21st century, we don’t see a very hopeful picture.   Our schools are not supplying the number of qualified workers needed to keep America competitive who can make the products and provide the services that our citizens and the world needs.  Consider the kind of skills required to make things that enable America to compete in the global markets and provide the economic growth that has always fueled our quality of life.  EVERY such skill has some basis in being numerically proficient – don’t do numbers? then you won’t earn much to fund your dreams.

If you would like to find out more about the TechMentor program and how you can help a young person keep his/her educational options open, please email nctechmentor@gmail.com.  Tell us a little about yourself and how SESF may contact you to explore opportunities to get you involved in a project that can change a life for the benefit of all.

George Rebane is a retired systems scientist and entrepreneur in Nevada County who regularly expands these and other themes on KVMR, NCTV, and Rebane’s Ruminations (www.georgerebane.com).