How many of you who are attacking Ted Kennedy tutor or mentor inner-city kids?

[EffieBlack]

Just wondering.

Did you know that, in addition to all of the other things Kennedy does (you know, fighting for us in the Senate kind of stuff), until at least a couple of years ago (he may still do it, but I'm not sure), he'd slip away from his office a every week to tutor a student at a school in downtown Washington. And on those days when he couldn't get away because of votes, he had someone pick up her up and bring her to the Capitol so he could work with her there.

-snip-
At noon Tuesday, Kennedy left Capitol Hill for a weekly ritual he has pursued for five years. An aide drove him to the Brent Elementary School six blocks away, where Kennedy read to 11-year-old Jasmine Harrison for an hour. Along with a few other senators and House members, Kennedy is a volunteer in a mentoring program for elementary-age students.

He and Jasmine sat in a corner in the library, with six other adult volunteers and their charges scattered around the room. Together they read from author Madeleine L'Engle's "A Swiftly Tilting Planet."

Program coordinator Shirley Farrow thinks Kennedy has made a difference in Jasmine's life. "She's much more confident," Farrow says. "He makes sure she writes down words and looks them up in the dictionary."
. . .
{Jasmine} was aware of the senator's approaching birthday, and had created a birthday card for him with markers and yellow construction paper. "Happy birthday Ted!," Jasmine wrote. "I'm really glad that you were able to celebrate another year of life. I hope your birthday is wonderful and may all your wishes come true! God bless you and your family and again Happy Birthday!" Returning to the Capitol, Kennedy met with officials from Great Britain and Northern Ireland for a closed-door discussion of the prospects for peace.

http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/02-02/02-24-02/b01wn053.htm