18th July 2011 9:00
By Blue Tutors
The head of a tutoring organisation has been recognised as one of the most influential people in his community, after years of devotion to improving children’s lives. Reported on the Delaware Online website, Harry Shur has been named in the top 50 people in Delaware because he runs the organisation Rodney Street Tennis and Tutoring Association.
Harry Shur started Rodney Street while working with disadvantaged children in his local community. He realised that they desperately needed tuition to increase their self-confidence, and broaden their horizons, but also that it was difficult to grab the students’ interest without an athletic activity. Shur chose tennis because he felt that it was open to everyone, regardless of gender, height, strength or anything else; he didn’t want anyone sitting on the sidelines. Tennis became the draw, but the main goal of Rodney Street has always been to tutor the kids involved, and help them to graduate high school.
The students and parents involved can’t speak more highly of the programme, but it is Shur who they feel adds the real value. His strength is positivity, and helping the students to realise what they’re good at, and what they can do, rather than what they can’t. It is this positive outlook on life which may participants feel builds self-esteem, and makes them believe that anything is possible. Obviously the positivity is nothing without the tuition the kids receive, but they believe that they can do well, so aren’t discouraged before the lessons start.
From Harry Shur’s point of view, he’s driven by watching his students respond to the tuition and progress through school, eventually graduating.