SHSU Students Can Join 'Help for Better Schools' Project
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Charles R. B. Stowe |
Sam Houston State University professor Charles R. B. (Chuck)
Stowe and Pam White, principal of Huntsville Elementary School,
have announced a program to increase the involvement of SHSU
students at White's school.
The program is being called HBS2, which stands
for Harriet Beecher Stowe - Help for Better Schools. Chuck
Stowe's great-great-grandmother was Harriet Beecher Stowe,
author of the anti-slavery novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin."
"Harriet would have liked this type of program because
she believed in education," said Stowe. "And her
sister Catherine even opened one of the early post-grammar
schools for young women."
Under the program, SHSU students will be invited to volunteer
2-4 hours once a week for a period of five weeks. They will
then receive a certificate and credit on their co-curricular
transcript.
The service-learning project is one of more than 30 that will
be featured during a "Volunteer Fair" to be held
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 9) in the Lowman Student
Center Ballroom. National service learning expert Robert Bringle
will make presentations on service learning in four campus
sessions Tuesday.
Stowe said that the goal of the HBS2 program
is to have the elementary school students interact with college
students and to see how much the older students value education.
"We have such a great group of students at Sam Houston
that can be effective role models for our young children."
said Stowe. "I believe this will also help our college
students appreciate their educational opportunity at Sam Houston."
Stowe said he was a volunteer in a similar program at Vanderbilt
University.
SHSU students in all majors will have their interest areas
matched with the many activities and programs at Huntsville
Elementary. For example, computer science majors may help
in the computer lab. Social science students may be asked
to read in class or during library sessions.
Students from the College Republicans and the Episcopal Student
Center and some of Stowe's students have already volunteered
and will be attending an orientation session at Huntsville
Elementary Tuesday and Wednesday. Individuals or members of
other organizations are invited to participate as well.
"Huntsville public schools have some really innovative,
courageous and brilliant leadership in the classrooms,"
said Stowe. "We have wonderfully designed and maintained
facilities, but what we need is more help for children who
have less fortunate situations at home.
"Many children here have a relative in prison, and many
do not live with a biological parent," he said. "We
need to reach these children and help the outstanding teachers
here inspire them. By putting some college students into activities
with younger children, the teachers will have living examples
of what education can do."
Sam Houston student volunteers must agree to a criminal background
check and attend a one-hour orientation session before they
will be assigned to a teacher or an activity.
Stowe is a professor of general business and finance in the
College of Business Administration, and specializes in entrepreneurship
and law courses. He has worked closely on the HBS2
project with John Yarabeck, associate dean of students,
who is coordinating the SHSU co-curricular service learning
transcript.
For more information, contact Yarabeck
(936.294.1783) or Stowe
(936.294.1287) by e-mail or phone.
- END -
SHSU Media Contact: Frank
Krystyniak
Feb. 4, 2005
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