Marshall Peer Tutoring Program

Marshall Peer Tutoring ProgramThe Marshall Peer Tutoring program offers help for a variety of problems which might arise for children in the process of their learning. Teachers and principals have many reasons to do this and as part of a great collaboration between the school and district, the program helps students gain more knowledge and understanding of the subject they are being taught. The program has three parts; a selection committee to examine the needs of the teachers, a committee to recommend what type of problems need attention, and a management plan to guide the work of the program. Many experts, including the Chicago Board of Education, agree that the program has helped provide an avenue for students to learn and master subjects better than they would without the assistance of peer tutors. It does this through face-to-face discussions with the peer tutors and through in-class teaching by the teachers. Teachers love to work with each other and the benefits are there in th e form of a better relationship between the teacher and the student that result in more personal attention to the student and thereby improve his or her learning abilities. Teachers also benefit because the students are learning at their own pace and can make improvements on their own, instead of having to constantly push the student to do things he or she may not be ready for yet. However, the program has drawbacks as well.There is a chance that the problem that needs attention will be one that affects the pupil's behavior or learning environment, so a professional must be involved with the student's performance at all times to ensure that they do not suffer any loss in performance. In addition, if the problem is based on lack of interest, lack of ability or a lack of study time, a student may be unable to focus and learn. These issues cannot be eliminated but can be managed by the teacher. Other teachers are able to compensate for the lack of peer tutors by taking time out to stud y.Some teachers are uncomfortable with the idea of a program which can encourage them to use harsher lesson plans. Even some who do like the program find that it is hard to ask permission from their superiors and the various departments in the school, as they might not agree with the program. There is a limit on how much change can be made in a district without approval from the board of education, which means that some compromises must be made. It is important to remember that the program has been tried and found to be effective with a variety of students.A peer tutoring program can be more useful to students who have problems with peers or in groups and it will probably be better for students who have difficulty understanding other students. The benefits of the program are many, but the hazards cannot be ignored.One has to remember that just because the peer tutoring program is effective, it is not safe. Some teachers and principals take advantage of this and teach students to dis like each other for selfish reasons. This type of instruction will most likely lead to an even worse situation than before.Many students understand that they cannot fight the odds and that the Marshall Peer Tutoring program should be a tool to learn and grow from. This should be encouraged, not feared, so that students can become better learners and responsible citizens of the world.