Alexander reads at 6th to 8th grade level. I believe his reading level is much higher. Telling his mother that the reading passages from the SSAT were easy, but the questions were hard, he scored 60% correct. We are working on that score. I’m just there to give him a bit of coaching. Unlike some American students, Alexander has a sense of urgency. Perhaps, that arises from the fact that his parents are immigrants.
Whenever the God subject comes up and I talk, Alexander gives me a I’ve-heard-it-before look. Who knows on which side of the scales of faith he will land? My other student is not Catholic, and I tease him, “I would be on your case in high school.” He knows that among the precepts of literacy is hope. As a tutor, for their sakes, I shan't live in a box.