School hopes to strenthen community ties

Seventh Day Adventist school provides guidance to local youths

For students who desire tutoring jobs or want to embrace community service in Oberlin, there is a local school that could use help. The Oberlin Seventh Day Adventist elementary school needs Oberlin students and community members who are willing to alter the lives of young people in a positive, community-oriented fashion.

"I am looking for a miracle," said Dr. Caroline Hurst, the head teacher at the elementary school.

For the past six years many Oberlin students have facilitated that miracle. Hurst wants people to realize that the school would not be a miracle without the combined support and efforts of the Oberlin community. The school has a very limited area for Hurst to educate the 14 kids in kindergarten to seventh grade.

"Since we do not have much space, we use up everything," said Dr Hurst. The space is used by every age group for learning centers that teach math, science, phonics and geography.

In the past, the Oberlin Music Coalition allowed students to take music lessons. "They all took music. Learned to play instruments like the flute, piano and violin. We use whatever resources we have." Now many parents are forced to pay for private music lessons since the program has been cut.

The school is for kids who attend the church. According to Hurst, "The home school is a place where kids can have fun. Where the kids are able to express themselves, and know the teacher/tutor is always willing to listen; where they are able to learn together and are able to grow together."

It is also a school that is community oriented. Hurst said, "Kids do community service and attend community events." Four stores in the Oberlin community have opened their doors to a drug prevention programs coordinated by students, and the students are encouraged to help anyone out who needs a helping hand. Students attend Oberlin College art shows, visit the museum, and also try to attend their tutors' performances. Students also get to bowl at the Cat in the Cream once a week, thanks to College Lanes manager Tom Reid.

"This school exposes them to a lot of things. It shows them life is good and fun. In the process it encourages them to be service oriented, develop a love for reading, and get them to become curious about life," said Hurst. "It is also an environment where kids do not have to sit at a desk all day...that is torture."

Luckily members of the church and community provide her with an innumerable amount of physical and emotional support. Parents have managed to have computers donated to the school, and a church member donated over 200 books to the school library. This support system is unique because everyone works together for a common cause, making children number one.

Support especially comes from a core of tutors, including senior Charlotte Byrd, sophomore Jonelle Hooper, senior Serena Allen, sophomore Sherdene Morrison and junior Caitlin Medlock. The Tutors had some interesting things to say about the school and the kids.

"I heard from a friend that kids are not enthusiastic at other public schools. Kids at this school are here to learn. They eagerly await us to come. When I arrive they come to me with hugs and screams of enthusiasm," said Hooper. "I loved it so much I decided to come back."

Byrd had similar sentiments. "I initially came to this school because I wanted to do some form of social service. I continued tutoring here because I liked it so much. This school is very effective at teaching children. I got a lot of feedback from the kids and teachers. The past couple of years the kids have been receiving higher test scores."

People always talk about the failures of American education today. This elementary school shows how community service and participation fused with a home school education can reverse the trend. With the help of tutors, and the continued volunteer support of the Oberlin community, the kids at the Seventh Day Adventist Elementary school will continue to grow academically and at the same time, as Hurst dreams, "become service oriented and learn that it is okay to give yourself unto others. I want these kids to reach out!"

During the interview, a few students arrived with two baby kittens in their hands. "Let's take them home!" one younger student exclaimed. "No," said the kid holding the cat., "I don't want to take him home because I want everyone here to share it."

Hurst's crusade has spread outside of the academic and spiritual realms to the social realm and she encourages the community to get involved.

Fun in the sun: Oberlin youths gather outside the Allen Art Museum for an afternoon of hand puppetry. (photo by Pauline Shapiro)