92-year-old tutor offers life lesson
Volunteer 'Mr. R' teaches math with smiles and cookies
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers VOLUNTEER TUTOR- Leisure Village resident Ben Racowsky explains the relationship between multiplication and powers to fifth-grader Alexa Covey, 10, at La Mariposa Elementary School on Tuesday morning. 92-year-old tutor

It's a love story that cuts across generations.

Ben Racowsky, 92, spends every weekday helping fourthand fifth-graders hone their math skills. He's done it for the last five years or so and wouldn't have it any other way.

"I love these kids; I really do," said Racowsky, known on campus as "Mr. R."

The nonagenarian spends three days a week tutoring students at La Mariposa Elementary and two days at Tierra Linda Elementary. A 10-year resident of Leisure Village, Racowsky said he was not content to fill his days playing cards or with other pastimes he called unproductive.

"This is therapy for me," he said. "I'd rather be doing this any day."

Armed with a bag of cookies for motivation, Racowsky patiently takes whatever time is needed to make sure the 9- and 10-year-olds grasp the concept of multiplication and division. He's helped children who couldn't multiply, he said.

"Without the basics, they're lost," Racowsky said. "I want them to be prepared . . . for the next class so they won't fall behind.

June Chiechi, principal of Tierra Linda, said Racowsky has a gift for uncovering the areas where students are having difficulty and finding ways to help them, and parents have noticed.

"Par ents often comment on how Mr. R has made a difference in their child's performance in math," Chiechi said.

Some students need more time, practice and individual attention to reinforce what's taught in the classroom, and Mr. R gives them that, said La Mariposa Principal Pam Gonzalez.

"He is very much appreciated by everyone here," she said.

For his efforts, La Mariposa PTA presented him with the Honorary Service Award in 2005, and a few weeks ago teachers gave him a restaurant gift certificate for an evening out with his wife of 66 years, Frances. The couple has two sons and two grandchildren.

Racowsky is also teaching students about people and community. Children see an active senior and someone who gives his time to help others, Gonzalez said.

"Those are all valuable lessons for the children, and hopefully they'll pass that on," Gonzalez said.

Racowsky said with a smile he doesn't know if the children like the cookies or learning math.

But when asked to describe Racowsky, 10year-old Allen Jing called him "awesome." Cassandra Akers, also 10, said she likes the way he gives them time to figure out the answers themselves.

But not everyone is enamored of Racowsky's methods, which include practice drills, quizzing and memorizing the multiplication table. Last week a parent sent him a note saying he might be pushing her son too hard.

Racowsky said that was the first time anyone criticized his methods. He couldn't sleep that night.

The Camarillo man said he'll talk it over with the principal to see if his techniques should be adjusted and that he holds no hard feelings toward the parent. He's glad to see parents take an active role in their child's education, as he did

when his sons were growing ns is a dentist in up. One of his sons is a dentist in Boston, the other is a math teacher in Sacramento.

But Racowsky worries about the children he doesn't get to help, and fears they'll fall by the wayside.

"I take it seriously," he said of his volunteer job.