University of Virginia Library

Adults Get Help
In Local Effort
For Education

By FEN MONTAIGNE

Within the last six weeks, three
diverse local groups have been working
together in an attempt to establish
improved educational facilities for
undereducated adults in the
Charlottesville area.

The Monticello Area Community
Action Agency, the Charlottesville City
Schools, and the University's
Personnel Department have recently established
a program which provides free schooling to all
persons over 18, who desire to further their
education in some way.

Area residents may enroll in the program
simply to learn the fundamentals of reading,
writing and arithmetic. The program also
prepares students to take the High School
Equivalency Exam. This exam, if passed,
certifies that the student has earned the
equivalent of a high school degree.

Students are taught on an individual basis,
and are tutored individually or in small groups
in subjects in which they desire to improve
their proficiency. There is a small staff of
permanent teachers, supplemented by volunteer
tutors.

Since its inception six weeks ago, the
program has been teaching approximately 125
students. Almost 75 per cent of these students
are employees of the University.

In cooperation with the program, certain
University departments such as the University
Hospital and the Building Services Department
have been granting their employees "release
time" for participation in the program.

Under release time, an employee, in effect,
is payed for attending school. If an employee
works for 37 hours and goes to school for three
hours, he is paid for 40 hours of work. There
is one stipulation. The employee must match
his three house of paid schooling with three
hours of schooling on his own time.

John Lambert of the Personnel
Department stated that the purpose of the
program was to upgrade the educational level of
the participating students, in order that they
achieve job promotions and obtain entrance
into vocational programs and community
colleges.

Mr. Lambert predicted that enrollment in
the program would most likely double within
the near future. He stressed the fact that
volunteer tutors will be desperately needed. All
students wishing to devote some time to the
project should call the Office of Community
Action at 295-32711.