Peer Counseling

There are some children who find school difficult. Their teachers and parents will spend hours, days and even weeks trying to find a way to help them connect with school.

In Assignment Education.. Bill Ratliff shows you how some high schools boys are helping younger students make that connection.

This is Dina Perezes fourth-grade class at Alexander Elementary, in Tampa. It looks like a regular class, butt a closer look shows you there is something different.. something special.. taking place here.

--[High School Student Cardiff Garcia says:] "How do you spell the last part of 'answered'?. Try 'w'."--

Jesuit High School Seniors Cardiff Garcia and Jesse Perez are tutoring some of the fourth graders.

--[High School student Jerry Freeman says:] "It's called a woodwind, because it plays with a reed, even though it looks like a brass instrument.."--

On the other side of school, Jesuit Senior Jerry Freeman is doing the same.. giving some second graders a basic introduction to music. Freeman, Garcia and Perez are just three of more than 50 Jesuit High students tutoring at Alexander. Alexander Principal Elaine Diaz says the Jesuit teens are having a positive impact on her students. She says young Michael Guzman is a case in point. Since Garcia began working with him, Michael's interest and performance in school have improved, greatly

--[Principal Elaine Diaz says:] "Because it was somebody who came, that cared, that's willing to work with him and also he's an image."--

Garcia says it makes him feel good he's making a difference.

--[Garcia says:] "It's rewarding to see a kid progress the way he has and just to know I had a hand in it."--

And according to Jesuit teacher Mike Lundy, there is a big payoff for the Jesuit students, as well.

--[Jesuit Teacher Mike Lundy says:] "They are becoming much more mature. They're reaching something inside.. potential that a lot of them I don't think have had an opportunity to explore."--

Bill Ratliff, Newschannel 8

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