On a frozen field outside Magnolia Middle School, a group of seventh-grade students held their own football playoffs Thursday as part of a Harford County pastor?s program pushing the importance of academics.
As part of his “Boys iI Men” mentoring program, Rev. Alfred Reeves has personally watched over the grades and classroom performance of 400 seventh- and eighth-grade boys, coaching them in academics, leadership and sports.
If a student in the program gets a failing grade on his report card, acts up in class or is otherwise reported to Reeves by his teacher, that student cannot play ? Reeves? middle-school version of the “No-E” eligibility policy that perturbed Harford County school officials this week when they learned that nearly half the student body at some county high schools was barred from sports due to a failing grade in at least one subject.
“The model has to be started earlier,” Reeves said. “You can?t wait until high school before telling a young man he has to pass all his classes.”
While waiting on the sidelines for the last game to finish, dozens of seventh-graders praised Reeves? program.
“He teaches us discipline, and helps us strive to get better grades,” said Codi Printz, captain of one of four teams from Magnolia and Edgewood Middle Schools.
Reeves inspired them with lessons on hard work, self-control and discipline, which he said would help them overcome the many obstacles they?d face growing up, Printz said.
Several youths credited the program with helping them prepare for high school at Harford Technical High School, Aberdeen?s Science and Math Academy or John Carroll School.
Off the field, students get tutoring twice a week, helping many formerly troubled students raise their grades and even make the honor roll. The best outcome, however, was a real change in motivation, Reeves said.
“A guy that goes from an E to a C and changes his behavior, that?s even better than the honor roll,” he said.
