East Boston: Homework Help Program

By Bro. Bob Metell, SDB

(East Boston, MA – January 29) – At the end of January, we are preparing for our Don Bosco feast day events. Don Bosco understood that a good education was the way out of poverty. He said: “The Oratory is the school that educates for life.”

In the past weeks, I have focused on many of our great staff and support folks and explored the various activities and events that are going on at the Salesian Boys and Girls Club. This week, I will focus on one of our least mentioned activities, most likely the most dreaded one for the youngsters: our homework help program. I recall that homework was my least favorite after-school thing to do when I was a kid!

Fr. Rich Putnam is the staff person assigned to the homework help room. When the youngsters arrive at the Club, they report to the board meeting/conference room and homework help area, which are isolated from the rest of the Club activities. When they come to the Club every day, they head up to the third floor and do their homework. Fr. Rich is assisted by Maria, the Club's art teacher, and one of my kitchen helpers, a Boston police officer.

The homework help program isn’t our only educational program. Maria is the club artist and conducts art lessons, where she encourages the youngsters to get involved in her planned art projects.

Last year, Fr. Bill Bucciferro and I introduced Christian art as part of our evangelization efforts. Two other programs that encourage the youngsters to develop their cultural interests and talents are our dance and music/drums instructional programs. The Club also offers a wide range of sports leagues and activities. Don Bosco said, “Run, jump, and play, but don’t sin.” He knew well that young people have a lot of energy and need to vent it, but he also knew they would get into trouble if they were not given constructive things to do.

I believe the most significant lessons the youngsters learn are how to get along with each other and respect the various cultural, ethnic, religious, and social backgrounds of the Club’s members. Those lessons are learned only through positively interacting with each other, engaging in fair play and good sportsmanship and making new friends from different backgrounds and neighborhoods. We live in a nation and world that could use a refresher course on how to get along with each other.