O ye of too much faith

National | The fight is on to determine how much faith Bush's faith-based initiative will allow | Tim Graham

As the school buses unload each afternoon, Hannah Hawkins—director of the Children of Mine after-school program in southeast Washington, D.C.—is in the kitchen preparing dinner for 60: today, spaghetti. As the children arrive with their backpacks, the discipline kicks in quickly. "Homework, right away," says Wanda Robinson, who has volunteered by Mrs. Hawkins's side for 15 years. The children are quickly warned if they fail to say hello as they enter. "You did not say 'Hello, Miss Wanda.' Go out and walk back in."

Within minutes, as Ms. Robinson applies dollops of love and discipline, the basement study area is a hive of academic activity. It's not fancy, but it's clean and colorful, and one entire wall is covered with six tall bookcases packed with books of all sorts, including several sets of encyclopedias. About 40 students are seated at tables, working with volunteers on math, spelling, reading, and how to tell time. The children without homework are expected to find a book from the wall of bookcases. A 15-year-old boy with a portable CD player is reading Call of the Wild as Ms. Robinson watches for stragglers. "Ebony, you didn't get a book yet. It's been two minutes."