Feb. 10, 2016 -- It’s pretty much accepted as fact that the middle schools years pose unique challenges for students. Raging hormones, changing expectations, and new environments all contribute to school struggles, whether academic, social or behavioral. But depending on which piece of research you read, it can either be girls who are at the greatest risk or it can be boys.
Luckily, Roxboro Middle School has specific programming designed for either.
The E.L.I.T.E. Gentlemen, an after-school club run by seventh grade science and math teacher Joshua Luton, helps young men navigate the tricky waters of middle school. E.L.I.T.E. Gentlemen are “Educated students who are Leaders with Integrity who are Teachable and work hard to be Exemplary in all they do.”
Mr. Luton focuses on giving the boys the confidence and the skills to be leaders, at a time when many of them are tempted to be “cool” and tough instead. He provides a safe space for them to explore how to become positive leaders in their classrooms, their school building and their community.
On a recent Wednesday afternoon, thirteen young men gathered in his room to talk about goal setting. First, they were encouraged to dream big: “Picture yourself in ten or twenty years. What’s your life like? What kind of job, house, car, family do you have?”
The boys took him up on the challenge and eagerly listed fancy sports cars like Bugattis and Ferraris, homes with swimming pools and ten bedrooms, and careers in the NFL. One wisely added, “I need a back-up plan too, like being a lawyer, in case I get injured.”
Mr. Luton then asked them to take a good look at their grades thus far this year. “If you take your grades and performance during the first half of this year, is the future you imagined actually possible?”
One seventh grader honestly admitted, “Well, I might have a Ford or a Malibu, but not a Bugatti.”
Mr. Luton then walked through the steps of how to identify SMART goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound, before having the boys set two of their own short-term and long-term goals.
“You gotta have the knowledge first,” called out one eighth grade boy, who hopes to raise his math grade by the end of the quarter. ”They don't want dummies in the NFL.”
It’s clear that the young men feel safe and inspired by their teacher and that Mr. Luton’s charisma is at the heart of what makes the E.L.I.T.E. Gentlemen work. The students trust and respect him, they know that they’re not judged but they’re also not let off the hook. The mood is friendly and easygoing, but the expectations are high and work is very real.
The program began when Mr. Luton was a fourth grade teacher at Boulevard and saw an unmet need in the lives of his male students. “It was really about giving them what I didn't have when I was growing up: a positive male role model, a mentor, someone who can help them build their character.”
When he moved to Rox Middle last year, he brought the program with him and saw how powerful it can be for older kids. As children gain independence from their parents, they need the internal motivation and self-control to make wise choices. “I want them to be pillars in their community, not followers who are only influenced by their peers.”
He admits that at times the task can be overwhelming. “Sometimes I wish I could follow them home and watch over their shoulders as they’re making important life decisions.”
But according to his students, his influence does extend into their lives outside of school. James Dye, a seventh grader who started the program while at Boulevard, said, “Sometimes when I’m in a situation and I might be getting mad, I think about what Mr. Luton would say or what Mr. Luton would do.”
That powerful influence was reiterated by sixth grader Isaiah Greene, who also joined the program at Boulevard. “I view myself as a leader now. The other day, there was a boy in my class who was about to lose control, but I helped him chill. That’s because I know how to behave.”
While Mr. Luton is pleased with the progress the club has made so far, he has grand visions for how it can grow. He’d love to have mentors, preferably men of color, to mentor students either individually or in small groups. He also welcomes community service projects for his students to participate in. “They need to see the power they have to be positive members of their community and the community needs the chance to see them as positive members. It’s a win-win.”
Anyone interested in either serving as a mentor or with information about volunteer opportunities for the E.L.I.T.E. Gentlemen to participate in can contact Mr. Luton at [email protected].
Next week, look for an article on the Ladies of Leadership program at Roxboro, which is providing similar guidance for girls.
But in the meantime, consider the words of student James Dye: “I feel like knowing Mr. Luton’s story has shown me that anyone can be a good person. Being in this club has made me a better person already.”