The importance of mentoring

By Martin Merzer on 12/06/2010 @ 09:08 AM

We know that all young people need positive adult role models and that many children simply do not have them - and that this is a major contributing factor to failures in school and, ultimately, in life.

We also know that Florida once was the national leader in mentoring, creating more than 200,000 relationships through the Governor’s Mentoring Initiative, launched in 1999 by Gov. Jeb Bush. This program was embraced widely throughout the state by the public and by private sectors. But funding has decreased recently, and mentoring no longer seems to be a high priority for Florida's top elected leaders.

This article in The Wall Street Journal illustrates both the need for -- and the power of -- high-quality mentoring programs. And it helps explain why a re-dedication to mentoring is one the first five areas of special focus for The Children's Movement of Florida.

Please feel welcome to share your thoughts in the Comments section below.