Read to Succeed is asking Rutherford County residents to unplug the TV, the computer and the iPod this week and spend time reading instead.
Escaping from the culture clatter that literally invades our lives through almost every waking moment could well pay significant benefits for all of us, maybe providing a little more perspective on life, a little peace, a little reflection and a little less stress. For parents placing a week’s emphasis on reading is a huge gift to their children. “Parent, to foster love of reading with kids is the most important thing you can do for kids and a sign of love and devotion,” Ronni Shaw, Read to Succeed executive director, states emphatically.
Fostering an interest in reading in our children turns them into curious learners, successful career people, learned adults and contributors to democracy, Shaw says, citing numerous statistics to back up those claims.
Obviously, when we look at our society and country, its problems and challenges, the benefits Shaw sees in reading could have immense payback beyond measure. And, absolutely no argument can be made against the damning statistic that some 65 percent of those in prison have poor literacy skills.
Reading ability is empowerment.
Involving children in reading doesn’t have to be work, doesn’t have to be rigid.
Opportunities abound, Shaw notes, from the Internet with many interactive Web sites where children can read and possibly write endings to stories to grocery shopping where children can be charged with finding certain items and checking on the amount of sugar or fat in the item.
Shaw shares her favorite: “I love a trip to the library. We all love to leave a store with something in our hands. At the library you can leave with a stack of packages and not spend one penny.”
Reading to children, literally from birth as is recognized in the Books From Birth program available here that provides free books to children from birth to the start of school, is invaluable in setting our youngsters on the road to a successful education and life.
“Small children who are read to enter school are ready to learn, stay in school longer and their reading levels are higher, all of which correlates to higher education,” Shaw says.
If we were to pick one single thing to improve our world, help resolve so many of its problems, teaching our children to read and read well would pay more benefits than any thing else we could attempt.
This week is an opportunity to take a step in that direction. Lots of resources and events are provided. Wouldn’t it be great if later in the week electrical power suppliers were wondering why usage was suddenly so far down? |
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