News-Record.com

Skip Alston deserves credit and praise for founding this program.

I'd be willing to venture that at least every middle and high school needs a male and female version of this program. I don't think enough members of our community realize how many students are at-risk and how our schools' current efforts are nowhere close to being enough to address the problems that our students are now bringing to school with them. That doesn't mean schools' staff members aren't trying, and it doesn't mean that those staff members' efforts aren't sincere. Instead, it reflects how extreme some of the problems are and how many young people are affected.

I may have missed it, but I'd love to read more specifics about how the program has been implemented, a blueprint for other schools to consider following. (I know there are other schools that have similar programs. Some years, we have selected some of our eighth-grade students to mentor our at-risk sixth-grade students, for example.)

Allen, if you find time, could you describe the Men of Dudley program more, or point out where you or others have provided additional information about the program in the past? Also, do you know of specific examples of how the program has made a difference with specific students (not necessarily by naming them)? It almost sounds like the kind of program to highlight in the way that Leonard Pitts has done through his series of columns.

Hardy, good to hear from you.
As I understand it, about 75 students are in the program but it does not match mentors one to one with students.
There's more of a team approach.
Volunteers also help monitor halls and sit in on classes.
They also sponsor cookouts, a black history quiz bowl and a video game tournament.
And they've taken kids as a group to basketball games and street festivals.
A couple years ago I challenged Skip to name something he does to give back to the community that does not benefit him monetarily or politically.
He had trouble coming up with something.
He's doing better.

I'm not surprised. For all his race-baiting, chicanery, and paranoia, Alston has always struck me as a basically decent guy.

And as SHF says, such programs are sorely needed. For a couple of years, I volunteered a couple of hours a week doing such work at the elementary level--it's needed there, too, I'd suggest--and it opened my eyes.

I'm not surprised. For all his race-baiting, chicanery, and paranoia, Alston has always struck me as a basically decent guy.

And as SHF says, such programs are sorely needed. For a couple of years, I volunteered a couple of hours a week doing such work at the elementary level--it's needed there, too, I'd suggest--and it opened my eyes.

That's alway been my frustration with Skip: He has the tools to do so much good.
Far too seldom does he make best use of them.

That's alway been my frustration with Skip: He has the tools to do so much good.
Far too seldom does he make best use of them.

Weren't those Dudley guys who went to the elementary school (Bluford) and fired a gun? Looks to me like Skip and his "Dudley Men" missed this shift watching these particular kids. Maybe the one charged wasn't a Dudley student, or a student at all, but I do recall that students from Dudley were involved.
Way to go Skip. These kids "represent" yo!!

Twilla:
Isd it just me, or does your comment seem mean-spirited and pointless?
Or is there a point I missed?

Just pointing out facts.. so yes, there is a point to it.
Your interpertation of my personality is way off. Sorry.