When the lottery started in California, it was touted that our schools would be provided the funds to enable the schools to be the finest. Not only are most of the schools in Los Angeles not doing well, most are well below average.

1. All students will have a mentor, a student of 3 or 4 grades higher to work on a weekly basis to monitor, and help with studies.
2. Many families have parents or brothers or sisters who are unable or unwilling to assist a child with their studies.
3. Students receiving scholarships in colleges will pay back part of the loans through the student mentor program.
4. Senior citizens have a lifetime of work, skill and expertise. Many seniors if they felt a program could fit into their schedule would be more than willing to help in the schools.
5. While this is used on a very limited basis, huge gains could be achieved by efficiently tapping into a lifetime of expertise.
6. Seniors could effectively cut the size of a 30 student per teacher classroom in half or more by providing assistance to the teacher.
7. Additionally children that have a hard time in different areas could be put in groups and assisted in the classroom by the senior volunteers.
8. By addressing the problems that some students are having in the classroom, the student will not be passed on grade after grade with the same problem.
9. Physical education class will be a mandatory in all grades from 7th through 12th. We cannot expect to turn around the child obesity problem by only having physical education as an elective.
10. The Industrial Arts Departments will be brought back to the High Schools and Middle Schools.