by Jacob Lasilas

Created on: March 20, 2009

Local schools should use any and all resources available to improve literacy. As an educator in job skills training programs and community colleges I see far too many adults struggling to learn because their reading skills are not at a level high enough for the material. The lack of literacy is holding these adults back from reaching their full potential. For some students I have had to resort to picture books in order for them to learn the material in the time allowed. As I talk with the students about their reading skills a common story emerges. Most of these students remember learning to read as a traumatic experience. They remember not learning to read as quickly as their classmates and being made fun of as a result. Another thing these adults have in common is that they did not get any help in learning to read at home because their parent(s) did not read. Solving the literacy problem will take a multi-pronged approach.

First schools must get parents involved. The way to do this is to educate parents about the benefits of reading to their children. Children who are read to early in life have an easier time learning to read themselves. Personally, I don't remember learning to read. I remember my father reading to me and then I was reading to him. I also remember choosing the longest books so I could make my bedtime as late as possible! Learning to read before entering the public school system prevented me from experiencing the trauma of struggling to learn to read while others around me learned more quickly. When parents read to their children not only are they improving their own literacy skills but they are showing their children that reading is important. There is no substitute for quality time together and parents should take advantage of the time they have before it is too late.

Schools must provide opportunities for students to read. They must provide time during the school day and a comfortable environment for them to read. I realize that there are many things teachers must include in the day but if just 30 minutes could be set aside for reading, students who do not have the opportunity outside of school can still develop a love of reading. Teachers also need to find out what interests the individual students and provide reading material on these subjects so students will see the personal benefit of reading.

Get creative! Living in a city where less than 50% of students graduate from high school I can clearly see what a lack of literacy can do. There are jobs that can't be filled because no one has the skills to do the job and just as many people looking for work but they can't find jobs. The solution appears to be pretty simple. Train the people with the skills they need for the jobs avalable. The problem is that this can't be easily done without literacy skills. Local schools are in the best position to provide solutions to this problem because of their close contact with the children. Without literacy skills the problems created are eroding our society and we have entered a downward spiral. Schools, communities, and parents need to address this problem aggressively or we will never climb out of the hole we're in and make the progress we have the potential to make both as individuals and as a society.

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