Literacy: The First Step on the Ladder of Achievement
by Matilda Raffa Cuomo & Matteo David Cavazos

The United States is the richest, most powerful and most technologically proficient nation in world history. Around the globe, there are millions of people who would give almost anything to be here because of the unique opportunities we afford. At the same time, it is obvious that for all of our resources and power, we fail appallingly in many fundamental ways, most significantly with respect to the education of our youth.

Only one in four or five US Americans are considered “high-skilled” in a world that everyday demands higher levels of education and training from our workers. A frighteningly high number of our young people—and adults—lack even the most fundamental literacy, being able to read and write in English.

This year, over 10,000 New York City third-graders failed the standardized testing in math and English and are required to repeat the grade as well as attend summer school. In part, this reflects the continuing stream of immigrants; who, from our beginning, have built and strengthened this great nation. In 2000, it was estimated that at least 1 in 7 students enrolled in NYC public schools were foreign-born representing over 140 distinct languages and did not speak English as their first language. This is not because they lack the ability to learn: for the most part, these students come to this country quite literate and well versed in their primary languages. Often, even if they are superior students, they are held back several grades or placed in special track programs due to the fact that while their knowledge of math, science and world history may be up to par or even advanced, in many cases, they do not speak or know English well enough.

For the last three years, Mentoring USA (MUSA), the largest one-to-one school and site-based mentoring organization in New York City, has matched dozens of newly immigrated students (aged 8–21, grades 3–12) with volunteer mentors in its ESL (English as a Second Language) Program. In a direct response to the high dropout rate of the English Language Learners (ELLs) in NYC public schools, Holly Darling of Columbia University’s Teachers College, a former MUSA Program Manager, spearheaded in September 2001 the new MUSA ESL Program. Since its inception, 200 ELLs/ESL Mentees have been provided with Mentors who skillfully lead them to a better awareness, use and mastery of the English language.

The mentoring relationship in many cases continues for many years with the Mentor helping the Mentee rise up the ladder of literacy achievement. ESL-trained Mentors meet with their Mentee who are selected by their teachers, counselors, etc., one-to-two hours a week, tailoring their instruction to the particular needs of the students: writing, enunciation, reading, and grammar. Site Coordinators and Program Managers at MUSA sites are available to monitor the Mentor’s efforts and the Mentees’s progress. Most older ESL Mentees (ages 15+) have passed all Regents’ Exams and many have entered CUNY and SUNY institutions. Mentors provide language assistance to the parents and family of their ESL Mentees as a natural progression of their relationship with their Mentees.

Altogether, the ESL Program is a good example of Mentoring USA’s emphasis on cross-cultural exchanges, which is helping to produce acculturated and productive members of American society. As we assist our youth to be English-proficient and culturally literate, we hope you will ask yourself how you can help the literacy effort. A Mentor’s one hour a week may not sound like much, but when you consider that, on the average, parents only spend 12 minutes a week in one-to-one conversation with their children, a Mentor’s 1 or 2 hours suddenly becomes much more significant!

If you or someone you know is interested in making a difference in improving literacy among students, contact us at 212.400.8278 or via email at musa@mentoringusa.org. Together, we CAN make a difference…we know we can, because we have!#

Matilda Raffa Cuomo is Founder and Chairperson, Mentoring USA. Matteo David Cavazos is Programs Manager, Mentoring USA.