Supporting The Goals And Ideals Of National Mentoring Month 2009
Floor Speech
SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH 2009 -- (House of Representatives - January 13, 2009)
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Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 41, ``Supporting the goals and ideals of National Mentoring Month 2009.'' I would like to thank my colleague, Congresswoman SUSAN DAVIS, for introducing this important resolution, as well as the chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, Congressman GEORGE MILLER, for his leadership in bringing the bill to the floor today.
Mr. Speaker, great numbers of Americans donate their time and their unique skills and gifts to our cities and communities, without any expectation of compensation or material reward.
As chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I understand how important mentors are for our youth. Mr. Speaker, today many youth face temptations that often lead them down destructive paths, and it is vitally important that we provide guidance that helps them make good decisions.
Mentors have been an integral part of society for many years, dating back to Ancient Greece. The Greek poet Homer wrote in the Odyssey that when Odysseus left to fight in the Trojan War, he charged Mentor, his wise old friend, with the task of caring for his son, Telemachus, and teaching him wisdom. Since then, the word mentor has come to mean a wise and responsible tutor or an experienced person who advises, guides, teaches, challenges, corrects, and serves as a model.
In our society today, mentors exist in many different environments. There are mentors in professional settings who guide apprentices by teaching them how to effectively perform in the workplace. There are mentors in academic settings who guide students, teaching them how to reach and maintain high scholastic achievement. There are mentors in community groups who guide their protégés through life issues, teaching them how to be productive citizens. There are even mentors in spiritual and church groups who advise others through their spiritual growth. In all cases, they are very important and essential to the success of the youth that they mentor.
Who needs mentors?
There are 35.2 million young people ages 10-18 in the U.S. today; of those young people: 1 out of 4 lives with only one parent; 1 out of 10 was born to teen parents; 1 out of 5 lives in poverty; 1 out of 10 will not finish high school.
About half of young Americans--17.6 million young people--want or need caring adult mentors to help them succeed in life. Of those 17.6 million young people, only 2.5 million are currently in formal mentoring relationships.
That leaves 15.1 million youth still in need of formal mentoring relationships. We call this our Nation's ``mentoring gap.'' Mr. Speaker, imagine if every child had a mentor--just one person whom they could look up to and go to for advice and guidance. Imagine how many young lives could be positively impacted. We could create the avenues and encouragement to ensure that all of our children receive the proper education. Too many of our youth are not being properly advised and guided on the importance of getting an education.
Mentors can help give those youth living in poverty to strive towards a brighter future for themselves. Every child could benefit from having someone in his or her life to turn to for advice and help in the time of need.
The positive relationships and reinforcement that mentors provide are clearly effective. Young people today are confronted with many challenges in life. They can find the confidence to overcome many of these challenges through a mentor. The benefits of a mentor are immeasurable.
I am proud to cosponsor legislation that will add service before self to our leaders of tomorrow. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.
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