Harte Dads Take Lead in Backing School

October 07 , 2007
By Brian Friedman
The Times Picayune

In the educational landscape of post-Katrina New Orleans, parental involvement is crucial in helping many schools get back on their feet. What's a bit unusual at Alice Harte Elementary Charter School in Algiers is that it's the dads who are taking the lead.

During summer Parent-Teacher Organization meetings, "we discussed what could be done to reach more men at the school," said Alan Delery of the Harte PTO.

Traditional outlets for boys, such as the Boy Scouts, require too much commitment for many young men today, Delery said, so there needed to be an alternative, "something that wouldn't be so intensive on the parents as well as on the boys but still get them into some type of organized activity as well."

The result of those summer brainstorming sessions has been the Harte Men's Club.

"It's the fathers, grandfathers, (male) teachers, just any male who is a part of Harte," Delery said.

Still in its nascent stages, the club has numerous plans for its members, including a fall camping trip.

"A lot of these boys have never been camping," Delery said.

The Men's Club also will be involved in planning the Algiers Charter Schools Association's second annual Character Counts Fair, to be held Oct. 27 at the Village Aurora Shopping Center. The event will include a five-on-five flag football tournament (open to all local students in grades five through eight), something that Delery and other Men's Club members believe will attract more boys at Harte to become involved in the club.

The creation of the club has spurred more paternal involvement at Harte, including a possible mentoring program for students who exhibit behavioral problems, Delery said.

For more information, contact Alan Delery at adelery@cox.net.