(Atlanta) Classic fuels education

FAMU, TSU get $100K each; rest goes to Atlanta schools

By St. Clair Murraine, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

ATLANTA - A little more than a dozen children were so engrossed during a math-class discussion that they seemed oblivious to the presence of principal Curt Green on Friday. Hardly any of them looked around when Green began to explain the roundtable setting to a visitor.

A few doors down the hall, an English teacher worked with a handful of students at the chalkboard. At the same time, several other students had group discussions going on.

Nothing seemed traditional in any of the other classes at the all-boys BEST Academy, housed in the old Thurgood Marshall School on Atlanta's northwest side. The curriculum is like most elementary schools, but the way it's presented is completely out of the box.

"Most boys seem to be hands-on in terms of studies," said Green, explaining the teaching concept. "They need a lot of movement associated with the work that they're learning in class. They get to touch and manipulate the (leaning tools) that they're using in class versus sitting down and hearing a lecture and taking notes all the time. We're focusing on their strengths."

The school's future looks bright, thanks in part to money raised through the Atlanta Classic football game. The game has become the 100 Black Men of Atlanta's biggest annual fundraiser.

While the Atlanta School Board provides funding for the school, the 100 Black Men pays for the boys' uniforms. But the biggest financial beneficiary is Project Success, a mentoring program initiated by the 100 Black Men.

Project Success offers children from low-income families an opportunity to develop life skills. The men take a lead role with actual involvement with the children.

Since taking over promotion of the annual rivalry game between FAMU and Tennessee State University 19 years ago, Project Success has benefited to the tune of $2.6 million, said John Grant, CEO of the organization, who didn't disclose exactly how much has been raised.

A huge chunk of gate receipts goes to payouts in the range of more than $100,000 to each university. About $6 million has been paid to the schools over the years.

The partnership goes hand in hand with the 100 Black Men's mission to motivate children from underprivileged communities to attend college, Grant said. He also said that several corporate supporters have offered internship opportunities and jobs to graduates of Project Success.

The Classic remains pivotal, though.

"I think the important thing to know is the fact that we're partnering with two colleges that have a long history of rivalry," he said. "We want those institutions to be strong institutions because we're sending kids.

"Our goal is to continue to increase the amount of payout that goes to the schools every year and raise money for more kids from challenged societies. We are impacting a lot of lives in a lot of communities."

The school is the brainchild of Beverly Hall, Atlanta's superintendent of schools, and the 100 Black Men of Atlanta. It's the latest mentoring project for the non-profit organization.

The academy opened for the first time in August with 138 sixth-grade boys. The plan is to add a grade every year through 12th. In two years, renovation work will be completed at Benjamin Carson School, which will become the permanent home of the academy.

Project Success, like the BEST Academy, is about letting children know that education is a sure way to change their fortunes, Grant said. Some of the boys are proteges of Project Success.

"Going through that, I got help with school and my homework, too," said Chad Gordon, 11. "I really appreciated it because I could get a scholarship to a college. My parents are really happy about that, and I'm really excited because I can't wait to go to college."

The emphasis at BEST, which stands for Business, Engineering, Science and Technology, is just that. Scientists such as Lonnie Johnson, who is known for his work in the study of alternative fuel, have had discussion sessions with the boys.

In the classroom, some of their work is done on special computerized programs in each room.

"I find it interesting because at this school we have iPods," said Marcquel Culberson, a former traditional-school student. "I'm enjoying it a lot."

The children's parents are just as involved as their mentors and teachers. They have to commit to giving volunteer hours and participating in educational projects themselves, Grant said.

"This is about changing the paradigm," Grant said. "We want them to know this is not an entitlement program; it's an opportunity program. You have to want the opportunity; we're not here to pull you along."