by Bert J. Millis
It was not too many years ago that I was your average junior high (now called middle school) student in Ormond Beach, Florida. As I look back, I wonder how I ever made it through all of the pimples, bullies, algebra tests, and the required locker room showers after P.E. class that made up a typical junior high school day. There were even a couple weeks when we were not allowed to bring backpacks to school because some of the kids were using them to conceal weapons. And I supposedly went to the “good” school in town.
I believe that the main reason that I did make it through junior high school (and through to graduation) is because I had parents who cared (and had the time to care) about my education. Every day my mother would ask how my day was and what, if anything, I had learned (of course my typical response to these two questions was usually “fine” and “nothing”). Also, my parents forced me to do my homework and to keep doing it until I got it right. Even when I would fuss and complain when I had to miss an episode of the Cosby Show, Family Ties or even Miami Vice, my parents wouldn’t back down and I would have to finish all of my homework. Finally, I knew that if I even considered skipping a class that I would probably still be grounded to this day.
Today, I am a (relatively) young lawyer with a child of my own (Colby just turned 1). Even though there were times back then that I resented my parents because they made me go to class and do my homework, I now know that I was very lucky to have parents who cared about my education and who were otherwise blessed with circumstances that permitted them to be involved in my education. I would not be where I am today without their advice, guidance and support.
However, there are many children right here in the Jacksonville area who do not have the support system that they need to make it all the way through to graduation. In fact, children as young as 3rd graders are being identified as “at risk” of not even finishing high school because they don’t have the proper support network at home. More children are identified as “at risk” in the Jacksonville area every year.
In response to this problem, the Special Needs of Children Committee of the Jacksonville Bar Association is working with two established programs to help these children who don’t have a sufficient support system and who have been identified as “at risk” for dropping out of school before graduation.
The At-Risk Field Trips Program
The Special Needs of Children Committee is teaming with the Duval County School System to assist the School System in endeavoring to expose those students identified as “at risk” to various law related organizations and experiences. Committee members intend to take groups of “at risk” children on authorized field trips to specific areas of the legal community such as the courthouse, the police station, the juvenile detention center, the county jail, court reporting offices, bail bond offices and various law firms (both large and small, criminal and civil) around Jacksonville.
The first purpose of this program is one of deterrence. Since children that drop out of school before graduation have an increased likelihood of becoming involved in criminal activities, it is designed to show the children the negative aspects of breaking the law, such as showing them a jail cell (and perhaps the food that gets served there). However, the second purpose of this program is to introduce them to the many positive aspects of the legal community. For instance, the children will be introduced to the various job opportunities that exist in and around each of the places they visit. For example, the children will learn that if they graduate from school that they could one day work at the courthouse as a judge, lawyer, court reporter, bailiff, legal clerk, etc…
The At-Risk Field Trips Program will be starting this Spring, with the first field trips (hopefully) to be scheduled in March or April. If you are interested in additional information, contact Jeanne Helton, at (904) 359-7761.
Communities in Schools of Jacksonville’s Mentoring Programs
While the At-Risk Field Trips Program is being conducted by the Special Needs of Children Committee members, the Committee is seeking young (and not so young) lawyers to volunteer for one of four programs offered by Communities in Schools of Jacksonville. Here is the chance to get involved that you’ve been looking for!
Communities in Schools of Jacksonville (a not for profit charitable organization) is in need of volunteers to work with children in the following programs:
1. After School Program. The after school program needs volunteer guest speakers to come to area schools (after school), and speak about their work or interests that will assist the children in cultural enrichment and to encourage them to remain in school through graduation.
2. Mentoring / College Scholarships. The “Take Stock in Children” program matches an adult mentor with a deserving low-income middle school student to assist the student in earning a college scholarship. Students earn their scholarships by committing to stay drug and crime free and by maintaining good grades and good behavior. Locally, over 450 scholarships have already been awarded through this program.
3. Literacy Program. This program matches adult mentors with elementary school children. As its name implies, mentors assist elementary school students on a one-to-one basis with their reading skills. The goal is to improve each student’s reading level by at least one grade level.
4. Student Enrichment Program. This program needs volunteer guest speakers to speak to children who are more than one grade level behind. It is designed to inspire the students to stay in school through graduation and to demonstrate that you can earn a good living even if your not an A+ student if you just stay in school and graduate.
The Special Needs of Children Committee is currently signing up volunteers from the Jacksonville legal community for each of these four programs. If you are interested in being a speaker or becoming a mentor, please call Communities in Schools of Jacksonville at 354-5918 to sign up. This is your opportunity to help a child in need.