WE'RE SITTING ON A GOLD MINE

By Zev Brooks

The Garden Grove Unified School District is uniquely situated in the middle of several major universities and many jr. colleges full of undergraduate students who should be tapped through internship programs for college credit to assit our students.

Our school district is located in between Cal. State Fullerton on its North, Cal. State Long Beach, on its West, Chapman University to its East, and UCI to its South, not to mention the many jr. colleges even more proximate to the district.

The school board, administration, and teachers of the district should work with the faculty of these institutions of higher learning. They could create viable internships for undergraduate students who want to get involved in the community. Students would be able to assist the education process and receive college credit toward their degree.

Such a program would provide multiple benefits to the students, teachers, and parents of the distrcit at a minimal cost to the district! First, hundreds of young, capable undergraduates could provide extra attention to district students who need it, while at the same time serving as role models to these students. Second, the teachers would benefit in having these undergraduates spend one on one time with difficult students. Third, the parents of the assisted students would begin to feel more involved in their student's education because of the role of the undergraduate mentor for their child.

The Garden Grove Unified School District is sitting on a gold mine, and if elected, I promise to go prospecting!