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daily nebraskan
Wednesday, december 9, 1981
Students get teaching experience from tutoring
liy VVanl VV. Triplett III
UNL students have been gaining valuable learning exp
erience and better communication skills through tutoring,
said the educational assistance coordinator for the Lincoln
Action Program.
"The bulk of our tutoring core comes from the Uni
versities," said lid Spry of LAP.
"Usually, students do it as part of a major require
ment," he said.
Spry said about 100 tutors spend two hours a week for
10 weeks assisting Lincoln area students. Tutors help in II
Lincoln elementary schools, three parochial, five junior
high and one senior high school.
"I would guess that a thrid of the element iry schools
use our services," Spry said.
The students come mostly from educational psycho
logy classes, which Spry speaks to at the start of the year.
Working with the tutor program is a required part of that
class.
"We've found that from this experience, people often
decide if teaching is something they really want to do,"
Spry said.
"very year, there have been three or lour people who
have been very fine tutors, but have just said that 'teach
ing is not for me.' It's convinced others that teaching is
something they're positive they want to do," he said.
Several tutors also return to the program although they
don't have to, Spry said.
"It's very interesting that we get the number of repeats
we do. Lach semester, four or five students will come
back because they feel this is where they want fo be,"
Spry said.
Less than 3 percent of the group are volunteers from
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the University community, which could be a better figure,
Spry said. The demand always exceeds the supply, and
more student volunteers could help.
"We work with Title I schools, where many of the kids
are from disadvantaged backgrounds," Spry said. Tve
had students come to me and say one of the real rewards is
it gives them a different perspective when they work with
people from a different economic base," Spry said.
The program also refers tutors to other Lincoln tutoi
ing services such as those as the Malone Center, tin.
YMCA. Youth Services, and the pre-trial diversion pro
gram. "I also write about 10 to 15 recommendation letters a
semester," Spry said. " So students use this when apply
ing for teaching jobs as recommendations."
Economy, energy, oil
rank most interesting
The economy, presidential actions, energy and oil aic
the governmental and political topics of most interest to
Ncbraskans, according to a report by UNL's Brueau of
Sociological Research.
The bureau's 19X1 Nebraska Annual Social Indicator
Survey report, titled "Nebraskans Interest in (iovcrnment
and Politics," was written by Susan Welch, professor and
chairman of the Department of Political Science.
Areas ranked as second most interesting were topics
such as local taxes and zoning, the defense budget and
world affairs.
The survey revealed that at a third level of interest
were the governor and state legislature, local school
boards and city government. These ranked just above in
and court decisions and colleges and universities.
Welch said it seems that "Nebraskans, like most Amei;
cans, show the most interest in those aspects of poliiio
that they potentially have the least control over."
MS North 18th Surwt
Lincoln. Nebraska
47&-MM7
PLACEMENT OFF (UNION)
WEDS THURS DEC 9, 10
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If it's not there when you need it,
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you need extra cash even more,
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