Latoya Grindley, Features Writer

Mr. Dixon checks the work being done by students. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

They fight fires, save lives and protect property. All in day's work. And at the end of the day, they dedicate hours to sculpting young minds.

Firemen at the Rollington Town Fire Station in Kingston have been offering a homework assistance programme for close to five years, aimed at preparing students in grades five and six for the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).

When The Gleaner visited the fire station on Tuesday, there were students grouped outside, with two classes taking place. There were exercise books scattered on desks and the students' faces were buried in textbooks.

monitoring students

Behind the first class observed was another group of students in a similar classroom set-up. The students looked older than the first group and were much quieter. They were completing assignments given by their instructor who was busy looking over their shoulders.

This is what firefighter Delmar Dixon says brings him joy. One of two tutors, Mr. Dixon, says the workload sometimes gets tiresome, but the determination and ambition of the students to achieve makes him proud to be involved with such a programme.

"It can be very time consuming, but at the end of the day, it brings joy to know a child comes to you and says thanks," he said.

There are two separate classes for grades five and six students from Monday to Thursday for two hours. Currently, there are 50 students registered to attend the classes which is the maximum number of students that can be accommodated. But according to Mr. Dixon, many more parents are still interested.

"Parents are still coming in and I don't know what to do. It breaks my heart to turn them away. Some parents even bring their own chairs at times for their children."

Mr. Dixon says that due to a lack of resources, including blackboard and chairs for the students, the fire-fighters try not to surpass the limit of 50 students. There is currently one blackboard being used for the two classes. The board serves as the partition separating the two classes. There is no fee to attend the classes.

parents love the programme

One parent said she enrolled her daughter in the programme to help guarantee her a solid foundation.

"I believe in pushing them ahead. I have seen the teachers work with them and they are very dedicated. I just want to see how she will grasp."

Mr. Dixon says the homework programme helps to bring the commu-nity closer, and assists with building the relationship between the members of the fire brigade and residents.

"Sometimes, I walking down the road and I hear 'sir, sir,' and when I look, sometimes it's one of my students or the parents themselves. It makes me feel good man," he said.

The programme is not only limited to students in the Rollington Town community. Students in surrounding and nearby communities are welcome. Mr. Dixon says there are a few students attending the classes who live in sections of Mountain View.

Eleven-year-old Andre Bennett, who will be sitting GSAT exams next year, says he thinks the programme will help him pass for his school of choice.

"They teach a lot of things that I sometimes don't understand in class at school, especially in my weak areas and sometimes I even learn things I didn't know before. And because of this, I think I will pass for a good school," he said.

He says some of his friends would love to attend, but are fearful.

"They say they live in bad areas and so they are afraid. Like some of my friends who live in Mountain View. But I would say to them that they will learn more when they come here and things they don't understand in class they will understand here," said Andre.

snacks from firefighters

At the end of the class, students are treated to snacks paid for by the firefighters. Mr. Dixon highlights the fact that while the programme has been going well, it still needs more support.

"Sponsorship is what we need now, like more school resources. Students are also required to take dictionaries to class, but some do not have, which is a set back for them at times. We, the teachers, have to be keeping their notebooks in boxes."

One of the coordinators of the programme, deputy commissioner based at the York Park Fire Station, Neil Findlay, says there are plans to establish similar programmes at fire stations in St. Catherine, Kingston and Stony Hill.

latoya.grindley@gleanerjm.com