Donuts for Dads: 250 men read to students at Watts elementary school

More than 250 men, including LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, participated in a program this morning at 99th Street School in Watts aimed at getting fathers involved in their children's  education.

Called Donuts for Dads, the program was the brainchild of Principal Sherri Williams, who found that almost every time she called the homes of her students, she would talk to mothers. If a male would answer, he told her the mother was the spokesperson for the family.

After doing some research, Williams found that 50% of students at her school did not have a father living in the same household. In response, she started the program, in which men read to students at the elementary school for an hour.

“I wanted to create a forum where the fathers would feel comfortable,” Williams said.

In one classroom today, student Ryan Fleming excitedly patted Officer Rudolph Baca on the arm to show him his new skills.

“I’m a snail! I’m a snail!” said the first-grader clutching the book “Hooray for Snail.”

After the hour was over, two children near Baca did not want him to leave.

“Next time, I want you guys to read to me,” he told them.

Even though Baca read to the children for only an hour, it had an effect, he said.

“They were very receptive,” he said. “They appreciated it too.”

Henry Hartwell, 60, who volunteered for his granddaughter, Daunwa Brake, said students read to him in Spanish. He said he benefited from having two male relatives read to him.

“I did when I was a child,” he said. “And I’m no different from them.”

-- Nicole Santa Cruz in Watts

Photo: LAPD Chief Charlie Beck reads to third-graders today at 99th Street Elementary in Watts.

Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

More breaking news in L.A. Now:

UC regents committee approves student fee increases; at least 14 protesters arrested at meeting at UCLA

UC regents expected to partner with L.A. County in reopening Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital

L.A. City Council puts off marijuana vote until next week at the earliest

Cal State trustees approve budget; protesters rally outside Long Beach headquarters

L.A. City Council lists top 10 places where bureaucracy makes it hard to film

Comments

[KK]

Principal Williams hit it on the nail. She is absolutely right. A similar finding in D.C also revealed the same conclusion that fathers played an important role and not 'Gap' which politician like to use. We hear achievement Gap day and night and dare not tackle the sensitive issue. The school are to educate not raise kids.

[snaginc]

So a couple of police officers, the mayor and someone's grandfather are supposed to take the place of these children's fathers? Something is wrong with this picture.

[Bob keeley]

We can't make fun of this effort. Aross the country, there are too many young and older black men in jails. The schools chased them away because we havn't figured a way to teach males in our schools. So, If this principal is working on re-introducing men back into the schools' ccurriculum, then maybe next, we'll start to do so at the other end, with understanding the men as boys when they are boys. We also have to sart teaching both men and women as grade school and high school kids how to assume roles in their families. It has to be taught in the homes and in the families as wel as in the churches and synagogues. Our own institutions to which thousands of people devote their lives (as teachers, parents, administrators and other staff) to work to teach the youth of our nation. we are missing the boat some way. look at the jails. Thsi principal is starting where she is--which is always the best place to start.
Bob keeley, teacher, Chicago

[Teddy V]

snaginc,

if these kids real fathers are not willing to step up we need some type of male role-model in their life. I know it is the job of their fathers but if people like these men don't help 9 times out of 10 they will be in the legal system.

[Teddy V]

Principal Williams,
Would you be willing to send me the details of how you started this project? I wiould love to start something like this in my community but I work on the high school level.

Thanks

[Kevin Simpson]

What a great initiative! A school I worked with in Maryland did the same project and had a HUGE turn out also. Next, would be to sustain this involvement over time and continually target dads and males to get involved with the education of their children and other children.

Kevin Simpson
Education Consultant
kdsl.wordpress.com