Student gets Governor as mentor [Jeb mentors a middle school student]

AP ^ | April 28, 2002 | Brendan Farrington

[summer]

Student Gets Governor as Mentor

By: Brendan Farrington
The Associated Press
April 28, 2002

TALLAHASSEE - Jeb Bush walks into the teachers' lounge at Augusta Raa Middle School, grabs a cup and pours himself coffee mixed with half-and-half and a Sweet 'N' Low.

Cup in hand, he talks with principal Donna Callaway about student Burgess Brown's schoolwork. Then he and Burgess walk over to a media center room with a stack of books. One by one they review science, geography, reading and history, Bush asking questions and guiding Burgess through the answers.

''Did you study this at home?'' Bush asks after Burgess correctly answers a series of science questions. ``It's a lot simpler that way, isn't it? That's pretty good you remembered all of it.''

It's a weekly routine for both. Burgess' reward is better grades, and the governor gets a rewarding escape from managing the state.

Bush is making education the focus of his reelection campaign and Democrats are strongly critical of his claims that school spending has increased and test scores are rising. But he tries to keep his work with Burgess away from politics.

''This is something I believe in passionately and would be advocating for whether I was governor or not,'' Bush said.

The amount of time he spends with Burgess is a testament to his commitment to the program he has pushed since taking office.

''I have a hard time sometimes getting a full hour a week with the governor, so sometimes I'm envious of Burgess,'' Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan said.

NERVOUS AT FIRST

Burgess, a seventh-grader with a quiet, friendly disposition, said he was nervous when he found out that the governor was going to be his mentor. He had another mentor in sixth grade, but still found he was failing classes and had to go to summer school.

But the 12-year-old is no longer failing, and he even earned a B in math -- what he said is his and Bush's toughest subject.

''He's more interested in school now,'' said Burgess' mother, Carolyn Brown. 'My husband was saying, `My goodness his grades have improved this year!' ''

She said her son tends to be lazy when it comes to schoolwork, but the governor has motivated him.

''If they really like the mentor it gives them something to look forward to, and if you're happy, your grades will be better,'' she said.

Burgess said he now sees Bush as a regular guy who helps make schoolwork more interesting.

Indeed, during a recent session, Bush was able to give Burgess a perspective on Central American history as the son of a U.S. president who was immersed in the issues.

Part of Burgess' assignment was to describe Nicaraguan contras, who received U.S. support when George Bush was vice president and later president.

''Contras?'' Bush asked, perking up with interest as Burgess picked up his textbook. ``I would call them freedom fighters, but this textbook may have a different interpretation of history, so we'll have to check. I'm curious.''

The book described the contras as counterrevolutionaries who supported an overthrown dictator.

''That's not what they were. The history book's not quite right,'' Bush said, explaining that contras were not just supporters of the previous dictatorship, but were from varied political backgrounds who opposed the Sandinistas.

THE PANAMA CANAL

The next question is on the Panama Canal and Bush describes it for Burgess.

''It's a really cool place,'' he said, explaining how large freighters nearly the same width of the canal pass through its lock system.

''The Panama Canal leaves about this much space on either side,'' Bush said, holding his hands apart. ``You can touch the boats when they go by you, these big, huge freighters.''

''God! By that much space? Has anyone ever crashed?'' Burgess replied in amazement.

Being a mentor has not always been a success for Bush. A student he was assigned to at mid-year two years ago ended up failing.

'You took a kid basically off the streets, and he said, `Sure I'll mentor him, no problem,' '' Callaway said. ``There was an enlightenment on both sides. That brought the governor an awareness of what we're actually facing.''

The next year Bush was given the choice of working with another student, but he refused.

'He said, `I don't leave failing,' '' Callaway said. ''He said, `I want you to use your own judgment, and if you think I can help him, I want to do it. If you think I can't help him, tell me.'' '

Bush stuck with the student, and even tracked him down in his neighborhood when he skipped class.

The following year the student passed all his classes and his behavior improved dramatically, Callaway said.

''He has not had a disciplinary record this year, which is phenomenal,'' she said.

The issue has been a pet project for the governor since his election four years ago. He created the Governor's Mentoring Initiative in 1999 to serve as an umbrella for groups that have programs to help students.

The year after it was created, the number of school volunteers increased 28 percent, said Liza McFadden, the program's executive director. She said nearly 116,000 people volunteer as mentors.

''I don't know if there's anything better than helping to improve the life of a child,'' McFadden said. ``That's at the heart of why he does it.''

Bush said being a mentor ``puts things in the right perspective; it centers me.''

[summer]

I meant to post this awhile ago -- it's a very interesting read! :)

[summer]

For index.

[summer]

Lt Gov Brogan and Gov Bush shop for school supplies
for mentoring their students, during tax-free back to school week.

[summer]

I thought you would enjoy this article. :)

Also -- for more info about Gov Bush's mentor program, click here.

[Balding_Eagle]

the governor has motivated him.

Impressive Governor. This kid is one lucky kid!

[summer]

FYI. :)

[anniegetyourgun]

It's cool that he takes the time to be with this student. Our governor would never go for it. He just talks, but he doesn't venture far from the mansion - unless it's to raise funds.

[summer]

Impressive Governor. This kid is one lucky kid!

BTTT!

Thank you so much, Balding_Eagle. BTW, I am trying to improve my typing. :)

[summer]

I agree. And, it's also cool how much time he has spent visiting schools and meeting with teachers firsthand. Thanks for your post. :)

[summer]

I meant to include this in my post above:

It's cool that he takes the time to be with this student.

(I am guessing you are in CA, and talking about Davis, the fundraising machine, so I hear?)

[summer]

Oops! I see you're in Washington state! Another fundraising king governs there, eh? LOL.... :)

[breakem]

Is there anyway Janet Waco can win this thing?

[summer]

Is there anyway Janet Waco can win this thing?

If there was no one else running for governor, then she would have a much better chance. :)

[breakem]

Runnin to save the children!

[summer]

That's a tough sell for her, IMO.

[summer]

FYI. A good read here. :)

[PhilDragoo]

Bush stuck with the student, and even tracked him down in his neighborhood when he skipped class.

The following year the student passed all his classes and his behavior improved dramatically, Callaway said.

''He has not had a disciplinary record this year, which is phenomenal,'' she said.

This is so far out. Jeb Bush has it nailed.

Now, contrast this with Oprah interviewing middle school students who say that thanks to Bill Clinton, oral sex is their pastime.

Jeb Bush: for whom "mentoring" means what it says in the dictionary--not Hillary's euphemism for Bill and Monica.

[summer]

Phil, Thanks for your post here. :)

[mafree]

This is real cool of him to do- it can be so hard for many of us to have the time to spend with a child that's not our own. GO JEB!!

[summer]

bttt