A Federal and State of California Nonprofit Corporation
Cleophas "Mike" McAlpin...Executive Director/Chief Tutor
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A New Level of Intensity! Read and heed! Each and every new student, along with their parents, must read the document below, before the student can enter our Program! Read all about: Our Rules of Engagement
We have arrived at....a "new level of intensity". We have seen this level before, and for that reason I must say this "new level of intensity" relates to the new students that enter our Program. Let me explain what I mean by that. See our Rules in Action
Yesterday saw the students fiercely engaged in doing their homework. It saw them working with the "new intensity" that I am talking about. It saw Chelsea doing her Algebra One homework from King Drew Magnet School; It saw Steven doing his Biology review of DNA from Carson High School; It saw Brianna and I discussing ideas about her Science Project at Valley Christian School (I suggested "Why Not Hydrogen", as a topic and it took us into the Periodic Table of the Elements, The Electrolysis of Water and the Atomic Theory of Matter); It saw Shalay at a Computer Station doing her Physics homework from Dodson Middle School in Rancho Palos Verdes; it later saw me on the telephone with one of the parents giving a lecture on "I think we'd better talk about your daughter's attitude in our Program"; It saw Jasmine doing her homework from King Drew Magnet School that relates to the graphing of straight lines; It saw me discussing "Attitude Adjustment" and the Purpose of This Organization". It saw "A New Level Of Intensity" that is now ...ongoing!
My lecture lasted approximately 15 minutes. It will now be reviewed for the purpose of those of you who are fortunate enough to have passed through our doors.
Let it be known that our Rules of Engagement will now be adhered to. Let it be known that the Rules are in place for students, parents and teachers. Let me tell you some of the rules. In the past, this document has been called, "The Rules of the Game".
For the students: Please read before you think about joining our Program!
(1) Only come over to this tutoring location if you are interested in doing your best work. Studying is in, everything else is out! Breaks will occur every hour, for 10 minutes. Cell phones conversations during our tutoring hours will only be carried on during those breaks. Lengthy conversations that relate to other than homework are prohibited. Also prohibited are: eating when not on break: talking when I am lecturing: sitting and doing nothing; if you have no homework and nothing to do, I will call your parent so he or she can pick you up; exhibiting that old "I don't want to be over here" attitude...that attitude will see you expelled from these premises; we will decide if we want you over here, and not the other way: not letting me in on homework assignments or not cooperating with me in doing your homework are reasons for expulsion from our midst; wanting to only "pass" and not achieve an "A" or "B" mark, will be reason enough to ask you to leave the Program. I expect the very highest level of intensity from you, because I will give my very all on your behalf. Any disruption of "my motivation" to assist you in becoming an "A" student will be met with that old "I am no longer your friend" attitude! So, new students, read and heed. This Program may not be suited for you. Anyway, since I do not know you when you enter our Program, I will monitor your behavior for a few hours to determine if you are of the intensity level that this Program stands for. We are not for everyone!
For the Parents:
(2) Come prepared to listen to someone who has spent more than 10 years interacting with Educators everywhere. Come prepared to listen to me when I tell you a few things that you may not be prepared to hear in regards to your child and education. I might ask you to stop buying all of those frivolities that tend to make your son or daughter a spoiled brat, unable to listen to anyone tell them anything, unable to stop gossiping or talking about teachers, other students and talking in general. I might ask you to visit a classroom occasionally; I might ask you to sit in this classroom once every 2 week period for an hour; I will ask you to make a contribution of $35 per month, as the amount necessary to sustain us. The fee is due up front (the first week of each month), and not 3 months after I have sweated and toiled and struggled to give all I have to give with regards to elevating grade point averages. Please understand that we are a "Free Tutoring Service" only because we give a minimum donation to support ourselves. We are not asking for the usual tutoring fee of $25-$45 dollars an hour! With all that we do, I would have to charge at least $50 an hour if I were not a Nonprofit Corporation! I don't have time to sit and do "grant writing". This small tax deductible donation will occur once per month, due during the first week of each month. We can not afford to be an "in one door and out the other Organization". If this donation is not paid by the end of the first week of each month, we will assume you are not interested in the Program any more and consider your son or daughter to be no longer a part of "A Free Tutoring Service". There are no exceptions to this rule! This small tax-deductible donation will also let me know that you are seriously concerned about the education of your child; at least the student will remain long enough to "get his or her money's worth" out of our Organization. I want each and every student to stay long enough for me to teach them all that I have to teach, and that is quite a lot and will take quite a lot of time! It is not fair to have some donate, while others do not! Those not willing to donate $35 per month, need not apply for admissions to our Service! We have a very long waiting list of those who want to cooperate with us!
For the Teachers:
(3) I will communicate with you via TeacherWeb if you have that wonderful website! I will come to your classroom if you like. I will come with the permission of your Office and a Parent. I will come during your Parent-Teacher conferences if you like; I will sit in your classrooms if you like; I will send e-mail if you like; I will talk on the telephone if you like...but I will communicate with you. It is of no use to think otherwise. As long as a student is failing, I must communicate with you as soon and as often as possible. Please allow me that privilege. Thank you!
I believe teachers are correct 99.99% of the time! The students might be correct the remaining percentage. Yet, I must investigate complaints concerning teachers and teaching techniques (I have not found any of significance in a whole lot of years!). Don't be intimidated and think that I am coming to your school to berate or chastise or to be concerned about a gossiping student. I am only coming to find out your lesson plans and what I can do to assist a failing student. I know that students criticize teachers because teachers are dedicated people, wanting more than anything else to educate, and to do the job they struggled through Colleges and Universities to do. Yet some teachers have been driven from schools due to student conduct and gossip. I am standing in your behalf, because you have a really tough job, especially you of the inner City. Everyone is talking about the sad state of education. They do not know the sad state of those who sit in high places (some parents, too) and say that teachers are not doing their jobs. After 10 years of watching, I can tell each and every Politician, that teachers are doing a wonderful job. Parents sometimes get into the act when students complain about teachers. Their attitude is that "all of the class is failing, so that teacher must not know what she or he is doing!" Were the parent to see the undisciplined students throwing spit balls, gossiping out loud, playing cards, eating chips and drinking soda, talking to their friends on cell phones, and talking loud and walking around, in general, then they would scoot out of the classroom just as fast as they could, never to return to a school again! So, keep on doing your job...the situation is bound to change in some schools; if it doesn't, then we all are in...a lot of trouble!
These Rules of Engagement shall remain in place for the remaining time that God gives me to assist with homework, elevate grade point averages, have students interact with the Professional Community, teach Vocational Skills, Counsel, take the students on Field Trips, instill moralistic values, as We, the Directors of Nonprofit Corporations such as this one, and the Professional Community of Doctors, Dentist, School Principals, Teachers of the Middle and High Schools, Professors at Colleges and Universities, and more than 25 others of the Professional Community attempt to make the world a better place for all. After all, all of these 30 or so Professionals are a Voluntary part (Volunteer Tutors) of this Program!
Thank you.....Cleophas Mike McAlpin
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