Some months ago I became a volunteer assisting with reading at a local elementary school. The opportunity for this program was presented to our Rotary Club by several teachers from the elementary school. We were trained on the procedure and it was arranged that I would visit once a week for 2 hours and work with several students in the lower grades helping them with their reading.

After several visits, I was asked if I would be interested in helping in a special needs class and was introduced to a student who showed me a paper mache mountain that he made of Mount 'Everest. He told me he was really interested in mountain climbing and the equipment that climbers use. So our trek began.

My student is Trekky. He asked me if I could help him find information for his project. "Do you know anything about Sherpa's?" It just so happens that I know a man who has climbed Mt. Everest twice and his name is Pem Sherpa. It did not take us long to find Pem's web site and his interest heightened. He talked about the equipment that climbers use to climb the mountain and I asked him if they used trekking poles? His reply was yes they did. "How about making a walking stick to use on a climb up Mt. Everest?"

Trekky has a lot of energy and I thought that having him involved in making a walking stick would create some interest in writing a report that he could share with his class and with his parents. His paper is a (How To) paper and there is a format that he followed to write it. At this time, the paper is being written.

The stick making process began by stripping a stick of its bark. I did this at home and cut off the knobs before taking the stick to him. He needed some tools and supplies, so I prepared a tool kit for him with files, sandpaper and some directions. His teacher was very supportive and provided him time during the week to sand and prepare his stick for finishing. Allowing him the opportunity to work on his own with minimal supervision was very successful!

There were some challenging moments as he sometimes found it difficult to stay on task. Fortunately, there is classroom next to his regular classroom that we used and I sometimes had to wait for him to get his act together. He has a lot of artistic talent and I have tried to convince him to move forward with his talent. It is revealing to me that he has not had many successes at school because of negative behaviors and consequently he self destructs before completing tasks that would earn a well done from his teacher. Trekky needs one on one attention and with support and patience, he can achieve success.

It is evident to me, that schools need volunteers. Companies need to provide employees the opportunity to assist in the schools. Retirees possess talents and skills and should be recruited to work with elementary children and teenagers. The schools need to reach out to their communities with a search for volunteers to assist teachers. So many kids need mentors and support from an adult and this can provide cheerleading and motivation towards success in school. Classroom teachers are challenged with so much on day to day basis that it is impossible to deal with distracting behaviors and meet the needs of the other kids in their classrooms. We have to find positive niches for the distractors. Successes do not come easily for these kids, and maybe never, in many cases.

Diagnosis and prescriptions cannot replace the human element and connection needed for children and teens needing attention. Classroom teachers need help. Schools need to respond and reach out with programs that provide volunteers who will give some time and talent in the classroom. We tend to shelve retirees when they retire and do not provide them with incentives to work with the Trekky's.

A walking stick supports a hiker, and a climber. Trekky has some mountains to climb as he is young, and searching for recognition. His stick has provided him some support with a degree of success. Hopefully, mentoring him, encouraging him and learning to work successfully with his teacher's, he will begin to appreciate school.

Dick Bryant is a retired educator. He is a member of Rotary and his rotary club provides the elementary school with some assistance reading to students. Dick spends time each week as a mentor with this student helping him develop behaviors for success. Self-esteem and self confidence have been lacking as he has not had many positive experiences in school. Creating the opportunity for a hands on experience designing and finishing a walking stick was a step forward for Trekky. Send me an email with your comments about this project.