Last Modified: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 1:53 PM

BY BOBBY DOWER / AMERICAN PRESS

A year ago, our newspaper endorsed the idea of adult and teenage mentors helping younger students.

The seed came from high school students following a package of stories the American Press published in the summer of 2010 about issues of some of the low-performing schools in Calcasieu Parish.

Spearheaded by local businessman Willie King, Homework Night sprouted. It’s held from 5-7 p.m. on Mondays at Zion Tabernacle Baptist Church on Shattuck Street.

Teachers and mentors agree the program, in concert with Bridge Builders and Kids Can, which provide adult mentors in classrooms, works.

It’s usually accomplished one child at a time.

Valika Hurst, a member of Bridge Builders, bears witness:

‘‘A kid at (John F.) Kennedy (Elementary) walked into school during our mentorship, and he was going to get expelled. So Willie said, ‘Let me sit down and talk with him.’ And in a matter of an hour, he was able to touch this child’s life and spend some time with this child. And now this child is class president — in a matter of weeks, not months, in a matter of weeks.’’

There’s more. Because of enrollment numbers, two fifth-grade classes at Kennedy were merged. Through King’s urging, the class’ daily opening ritual of silent reflection and the Pledge of Allegiance includes the following pledge from the students: ‘‘Teacher, we’re going to have a great day because we know you care. And because you care, we care.’’

Says Hurst: ‘‘You can walk into that class at any time and hear a pin drop. Even the principal said, ‘I don’t know what you said, and I don’t know what you did, but it’s a totally different class.’’’

In an essay about the impact of a mentor in the classroom, one of those fifth-grade students wrote: “Mr. King is a wonderful father figure for me. I am not getting in trouble, and my grades have improved because I know that someone cares other than my mother, my principal, and my teacher.”

King and Hurst have been joined at College Oaks Elementary School by fellow Bridge Builders Sam and Denise Hebert.

‘‘While parents, teachers, administrators and school counselors play a key role in keeping students in school and learning, the involvement of a community member can be a truly significant connection made in helping a child to be successful. The Lake Charles Bridge Builders Program has become that significant connection for many of the children at College Oaks Elementary,’’ says Assistant Principal Willona Jackson.

Homework Night is an extension of that mentoring, matching an adult, college or high school student with elementary students to help them with reading, English, social studies, math and science.

‘‘When I’ve been there, I’ve watched children literally light up when someone takes notice or makes them feel like what they are doing is important,’’ said Calcasieu Parish School Superintendent Wayne Savoy. ‘‘If children believe what they believe is important, that’s the way they’re going to treat other people. What we do to children is what they’re going to do to other people. ...

‘‘Those children who are participating (in Homework Night), no one can make believe they don’t walk away a better person and a better student.’’

It’s not just students that benefit. The Rev. Henry Mancuso has been a faithful tutor since Homework Night’s inception.

‘‘There were Monday nights when I arrived at Homework Night at 5:30 a bit weary from the day,’’ he says. ‘‘A smile of appreciation from a student or excitement when she/he learned something new greatly outweighed any weariness and made me return week after week. An hour of one-on-one time between a student and a tutor has an impact for the entire week.’’

And it’s not adult-only. Gage Navarre geared his Eagle Scout project to benefit Homework Night because he said, ‘‘getting an education is the most important thing we can do.’’

Navarre collected enough school supplies to send to several schools to be used to reward students for positive behavior.

Besides tutoring, students are served a meal, normally a hamburger or hot dog, chips and a soft drink, compliments of Wendy’s restaurant and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso.

Last year, King stopped a young student at evening’s end and asked him if he had learned anything.

‘‘No sir,’’ came the reply, ‘‘but at least I got something good to eat.’’

Some Homework Night victories are small to some, monumental to others.

Until my heart attack in September, I helped tutor during Homework Night.

What did I learn? Fifth-grade math sure isn’t as easy as it was some 50 years ago in Mrs. Stagg’s Fourth Ward Elementary class. In fact, there were a few problems that were downright humbling.

But I left each Monday knowing that I had personally reaped more than I had sown. And I have every intention to resume tutoring.

In any such endeavor, there’s an ebb and a flow. Right now is low tide regarding mentors in the program. Quite frankly, the demand exceeds the supply.

Think of it as an algebra formula. There’s plenty of A (youngsters who could benefit from Homework Night) in the community. But to equal C — better students — there’s got to be an ample number of B — dedicated and dependable mentors.

More information on Homework Night and forms to volunteer can be found at www.homeworknight.com . Or you can just show up at Zion Tabernacle around 5 p.m. on Mondays.

‘‘Everybody thinks you have to invest so much time,’’ says Hurst. ‘‘And really, it’s less than 15 minutes some times. Because you can go in and say one word and that sticks with that child. ... It doesn’t take a lot of time.’’

Homework Night is tailor-made for church groups, civic organizations, retired teachers and other individuals hungering to make a difference in our community.

As King says, ‘‘You don’t have to know math or English to show a child love.’’

Still on the fence? Consider Forest Witcraft’s often quoted nugget: “A hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank ... but the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child.”

You’ll be better for it as well.