Schools Seek More Male Mentors for Watch Dog Program
By: Deedra Wilson
Updated: December 17, 2012
A middle school in North Little Rock is encouraging parents to get more
involved with their students' lives, while still at school.
The objective of Watch Dog is having a male mentor on site at Ridge Road Middle School in North Little Rock to participate in kids' lives.
"When we get here, we go around to the classrooms and talk to the teachers and make sure everyone is conducting themselves accordingly," says volunteer Adolph Hickman.
The Watch Dog program is in schools across the United States, and teachers say they have seen improvements in kids socially and academically.
"It lets students know that there is always support, not just with the faculty, but when the family members like fathers, uncles, brothers come into the school and walk into the campus they see what they go through on a daily basis," says Language Arts teacher Bokari Williams.
Hickman's daughter Kyla attends school at Ridge Road, and thinks it's cool her dad comes to the school once a week, for her sake and the other kids.
"They have a role model to look up to whenever he comes here," Kyla says.
And after the tragedy in Connecticut, having more presence from family on campus is crucial.
"That's not just for the kids, that's for everybody," Williams says.
The monthly calendar for volunteers to sign up still has plenty of blank spaces, meaning more are needed.
The objective of Watch Dog is having a male mentor on site at Ridge Road Middle School in North Little Rock to participate in kids' lives.
"When we get here, we go around to the classrooms and talk to the teachers and make sure everyone is conducting themselves accordingly," says volunteer Adolph Hickman.
The Watch Dog program is in schools across the United States, and teachers say they have seen improvements in kids socially and academically.
"It lets students know that there is always support, not just with the faculty, but when the family members like fathers, uncles, brothers come into the school and walk into the campus they see what they go through on a daily basis," says Language Arts teacher Bokari Williams.
Hickman's daughter Kyla attends school at Ridge Road, and thinks it's cool her dad comes to the school once a week, for her sake and the other kids.
"They have a role model to look up to whenever he comes here," Kyla says.
And after the tragedy in Connecticut, having more presence from family on campus is crucial.
"That's not just for the kids, that's for everybody," Williams says.
The monthly calendar for volunteers to sign up still has plenty of blank spaces, meaning more are needed.
