Alarming statistics have shown a growing trend over the years of school-age males participating in criminal and drug behaviors that lead to incarceration. Communities across South Carolina are developing ways to alleviate the causes, but none are more basic yet all-encompassing than the inaugural Boys and Men Working Together conference held Nov. 14-16) at Orangeburg Consolidated District 5's Howard Middle School.

Principal Dr. Jacqueline Vogt said research shows that working with the whole child generally results in a positive academic performance. But she said the basis for the conference involved much more.

"We always have to meet our (state) average yearly performance (AYP), and the boys are one of our sub groups that presents a challenge," she said. "I have a passion about all of our students but especially about our boys. This conference allowed our young men a chance to express themselves and for both them and our male staff members to do some listening that kids need in life to grow up properly, because with all we face as educators teaching academic standards, there just isn't enough time to teach life. We wanted to help build character and support our school mission statement."

The Boys to Men Conference was chaperoned by men on the school staff who volunteered their weekend to work with the youth. Some 60 participating boys began arriving Friday afternoon, setting the tone by participating in indoor sports and a movie.

Saturday was spent in various life topic discussion groups with the staff. Friday and Saturday nights were spent "camping out" in the gymnasium.

Tillmon Ancrum, Howard Middle School assistant principal, said the conference is just the beginning in helping students make better choices. He said too often, middle school boys get caught up in the wrong things.

"Research has shown over the years that it's in middle school that a number of them fall by the wayside," Ancrum said. "This conference is an opportunity for young men to interact with older men much in the same way as when I was growing up. We went to the barber shop. You would sit there and hear the older men chat. You didn't say a lot but just listened to how they interacted. This is that kind of community atmosphere, where we talk about a number of different things with the kids."

The breakout groups dealt with serious material, such as premarital sex, family structure, gangs, drugs and defining masculinity. Others offered real-life guidance on how to shave, tie a necktie, dress and present a positive image and how an individual can carry themselves with confidence.

"Our school already has a mentoring program in place, but this is about establishing a relationship with the boys," Ancrum said. "So often young people get caught up in circumstances in school (where) they have to work it out in the current system due to the policies and procedures we must follow. But this is a chance to establish a precedence and build from there."

The conference featured two speakers, the Rev. C.L. Sheppard and the Rev. Haynes Gainey, who talked to the participants about making wise choices and about the history of the black man as an endangered species.

Sheppard, who works for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in the metro Atlanta area, is a former NFL player with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from Apopka, Fla. He talked about how to build personal character and integrity.

"Don't make a thing - be it a girlfriend, football or whatever - the basis on which you make your major decisions," Sheppard said. "Don't base your worth on temporary things but what is in your heart. Ask yourself, who are you? Talent alone will not take you very far unless you have character. Ask (NFL football player) Pac Man Jones about his character, which could not sustain him. We would not be helping you here today if we don't help you build your personal integrity and character."

Hartford Wright, Howard Middle campus monitor, said the conference was a volunteer effort of the school, its staff and the community. Wright noted the effort requires constant and consistent reinforcement in order to have a positive, lasting impact.

"The relationship with the men at school will be better for these boys because while we may not be best buddies after only one weekend, we have started talking straight with them about the issues they find important," Wright said. "This will help with the issue of discipline in school, and these boys can go out and positively influence their peers."

Vogt says the school will also have a Girls' Night Out to foster a similar experience with female students. She says she has already seen positive changes as a result of the conference, including requests from a number of participants to hold a Boys to Men event every month.

"One young man already sent me a letter thanking me for the weekend," Vogt said. "He said he is taking proactive steps now to stop being a baby and start being a man."

T&D Staff Writer Phil Sarata can be reached by e-mail at psarata@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5540. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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