Educational Services
The purpose of the Learning Center's existence is to help meet the educational needs of the diverse population we serve - the challenge is in how those needs are met. Unlike most educational environments where you can expect the population to be of approximately the same grade level (elementary deals with 1st thru 6th, high school deals with 9th thru 12th, etc) the population at the Bakersfield Rescue Mission runs the gamut from unable to read with no formal education to those with advanced degrees such as a Masters or Doctorate.
The staff is there to assess the needs of each individual and then to help connect those who desire learning and growth to educational experiences and opportunities through becoming acquainted with books, proper use of the internet and computers, and through group learning experiences. There is an integration of library services with life on the BRM campus and beyond. Those receiving emergency services can get connected with employment services and training; those participating in the Discipleship program can, besides the academic education, use the extensive Christian library and the internet to augment their biblical studies.
Most large classes that are taught are specific to the discipleship program such as Anger Management, Relationships, Money Management, State of California approved Parenting, and many, many classes on the Bible and Christianity. In addition to the areas already mentioned the Learning Center also offers GED classes, reading remediation, computer education, online studies, satellite library sites, and tutors (click on any of the underlined links to get further information on each specific area of education). It is our hope, however, to be able to offer some of these classes to all of our guests in the future as well as to continue to grow so as to better satisfy the needs of the population we serve.
If you are interested in helping us continue to meet the educational needs of our guests you may make a monetary donation to the Rescue Mission at P.O. Box 2222 Bakersfield, CA. 93303 with "For educational needs" in the memo or you may click here to donate online now or you may click here to see a list of items of which we are constantly in need.
Our prayer is this: O Eternal God, bless this facility that it may be a lively center of sound learning and new discovery, and may it be used for the pursuit of wisdom. Grant that those who teach and those who learn may find You to be the source of all truth. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Specific Areas of Education
Tutors are utilized in several ways in the Learning Center. Tutors provide individualized instruction for those needing in-depth work in certain academic areas of the GED. This is especially true for learners whose first language is Spanish or who have been removed from formal school for several years. Tutors are welcomed to teach specialized subjects to GED classes, which provide variety to instruction.
Tutors also provide small group reading, reading remediation and individualized or specialized instruction. We continually have a need for found American Sign Language instructors to instruct staff from other departments and the Learning Center staff, as we have a few hearing-impaired people on campus.
Tutors have come through the Kern Literacy council, the community-at-large, churches and from within our own population. We have instructional videos for tutors, plus they can receive guidance and materials from the Learning Center Director and staff.
People in the Discipleship Program are eligible to attend GED classes on campus three times a week with an instructor. This includes using the official GED prep book, classroom instruction and taking practice tests. When a person is ready for the test, the Bakersfield Rescue Mission pays for the testing fee and provides transportation to and from the testing site.
We have several levels of reading remediation available to students from both the Discipleship Program and HIS. Each student needing remediation is assessed for reading level and then placed in a reading-development series. This may include independent study through a video phonics series, reading development through guided-SRA materials, individualized tutoring or a small group reading study.
Computer Education is available on several topics. People can be introduced to using the internet via a video series. Through the use of a typing tutorial, people can earn a certificate for accomplishing certain typing levels, then graduate to receiving certificates for the completion of online tutorials of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.
The internet provides a plethora of opportunities for Bible study and, specifically, Bible study directed towards recovery and discipleship. We have researched the better ones and direct people to those studies. We provide support, accountability and encouragement to complete these studies.
Because of a generous donation of talent and material, there is a recent addition to the HIS Drop-In Center: a walk of library shelves. While HIS guests may patronize the Learning Center during regular hours, having a library in their area increases the availability of books & games for reading at other times.
- Tutors
- Books: Fiction, Science Fiction, History, Biography, Christian Living
- VHS Tapes: G, PG, PG13, Instructional
- Consumable Supplies: pocket folders, lined paper, pens
- Books on tape (Especially with a corresponding book for remedial readers)
- Music CDs: instrumentals, Christian
- Newspaper subscription (The Bakersfield Californian)
