|
|
|
|
|
|
A Paperback Problem
by Lizette Romero
March 17 |
|
|
 |
Do you remember the magic of your first book? The brilliance of riding a peach holstered by a hundred seagulls or the ability to talk to a juggling feline with a red and white striped hat?
Books like Ronald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach and Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat taught me at an early age that as long as I had a good book, my imagination could hop to Narnia and back.
The sad truth remains that many children don’t have the luxury of literacy. And it’s not because they can’t read. The United States possesses a 99 percent literacy rate! Compare that to say, the war-stricken West African country of Sierra Leone, which bears a distressing 35 percent literacy rate. If you can read this now – consider yourself fortunate.
So what’s the issue? Why are only half of American children read to? Why do only 25% of high school graduates read above an eighth grade level? Lack of access to books is one main reason.
“Access to books and educational material is the single biggest barrier to literacy development in the United States and beyond,” said Susan B. Neuman, Ph.D. University of Michigan, Ctr. for Improvement of Early Reading Achievement. “If we can solve the problem of access, we will be well on the road to realizing educational parity – a goal which has eluded this country for generations.”
I don't know how this happens. How can there be a shortage of books? I’ve had access to a library all my life! Well, the key difference remains that my parents encouraged reading; I grew up middle-income; and my family could afford books. Others aren’t so lucky.
Would it shock you to know that in middle income neighborhoods the ratio of books per child is 13 to 1, whereas in low-income neighborhoods the ratio is 1 per 300? Or that 80% of preschool and after-school programs serving low-income populations have no age-appropriate books for their children? It saddens me to think that these children will never truly know about the adolescent adventures of a wizard named Harry or the wacky world of Amelie Bedelia.
A million stats and studies exist about the immense amount of acquisition, knowledge, creativity and comprehension that reading brings to a child. But I think we all know the importance of reading in an educational sense. What I challenge you to think about is what a good book might do to your emotions, your character and your sense of being. I challenge you to think of what a good book (or lack thereof) can do for a child.
Do you have a news worthy story that you would like to see posted at YourCause.com? Write to us at info@yourcause.com.
Related Charities:
|
| The content published and opinions expressed at YourCause.com does not necessarily represent a statement or position by any employee of YourCause, LLC. All content is intended to inform and educate readers on a variety of events, deemed newsworthy, taking place throughout our world. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
