A student tutoring program aimed at helping both tutor and tutee is underway between the Department of Education, the U.S. District Court of the V.I. and the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
The Peer Helper’s Program will give public and private high school students in grades 10-12 who are in good academic standing the opportunity to serve as tutors and mentors to elementary school students in grades one to six.
U.S. Attorney James Hurd Jr. said his office has provided training to almost 200 high school students for the Peer Helper program. The program is targeting academically challenged elementary school students.
Hurd said the process will not only help the student-mentee, but also the student-mentor to develop an understanding and appreciation of the responsibility involved in teaching and nurturing another young person. The program will also provide the mentor with an additional incentive to improve his or her academic performance at school, develop leadership skills and enhance his or her pro-social skills while providing an invaluable community service, Hurd said.
On St. Croix, the program will be held at the "Safe Haven" of the Almeric Christian Federal Building and on St. Thomas at the Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse. The two-hour long tutorial sessions will begin Nov. 15. at 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
An orientation for Peer Helpers on St. Thomas is set for Nov. 10 at 4:30 p.m. in the Federal Building’s Grand Jury Assembly Room, and on St. Croix on Nov. 12. at 4:30 p.m. at the Almeric Christian Building’s Jury Assembly Room.
Hurd emphasized that the tutoring program isn’t a "babysitting service." He said that parents or guardians are expected to take part in their children’s educational development, including transporting kids to and from the "Safe Havens" and participating in various parenting workshops being developed for parents or guardians whose children are being mentored.
