The U.S. Department of Education, in partnership with the Center for the Book, sponsored a live television show, "Reading Together: Families, Schools and Communities," about summer reading programs on May 20 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Jefferson Building.
Washington, D.C., students were special guests of the "Reading Together" program held in the Jefferson Building. - Jim Higgins
Richard W. Riley, secretary of education, and Carol H. Rasco, director of America Reads Challenge, hosted a panel of five representatives from local reading promotion organizations around the country. Nancy Mathis moderated and fielded questions for the panel that came from the viewing audience.
The television program is part of a series of "Satellite Town Meetings" produced by the Department of Education and distributed to more than 700 sites across the nation.
Guest panelists included Jack Batty, executive director of GE Elfun, a volunteer program run by the General Electric Corp. for its employees; Betty Breedlove, Title I coordinator for the Kansas City, Mo., school system; Peter Jensen, West Virginia University Extension Agent; Sandy Cahn, director of education for Teamworks of Shreveport, La.; and Mary Somerville, a librarian from the Miami-Dade Library of Miami and then president of the American Library Association.
Ms. Mathis opened the show by asking each participant to describe the reading program in which they were involved. Jack Batty told how General Electric allows its employees to assist teachers with reading programs in their local communities. Sandy Cahn described how the program she began in her synagogue has expanded into schools and other programs in Shreveport, while Mary Somerville told about the "Blast Off into Reading" program in Miami that includes rewarding children for reading with prizes such as coupons to visit museums or free pizza.
Peter Jensen described the "Energy Express Program" that he runs in Morgan County, W.Va. As the county agricultural extension agent, Mr. Jensen has integrated reading into a program that provides free breakfasts and lunches to underprivileged children.
Betty Breedlove told the audience that the mayor of her city, Kansas City, is actively involved in reading programs, to the point that he plans to open a summer reading camp in City Hall and personally serve as a volunteer "reading partner."
Ms. Mathis then accepted the first telephone call-in, a question from a viewer in Pensacola, Fla., who asked how to involve more fathers in reading promotion. Mr. Riley responded by noting that busy parents can make use of recorded tapes.
A short taped segment about a program in Houston followed. The "Houston Reads to Lead" program grew out of a program developed by Girl Scouts who acted as mentors for children. It has now expanded to include volunteers from local businesses working through AmeriCorps.
Jack Batty of G.E. said that the rewards flow both ways when businesses encourage employees to become involved in such programs. "It brings a new relationship into the lives of busy executives," he said, "and they find it very rewarding."
Sandy Cahn said that the rewards can be more tangible. The Shreveport program pays teenagers to become reading mentors, providing both a summer job program and a reading program to the community.
A previously taped segment about the Library of Congress was played, followed by a live interview with John Cole, director of the Center for the Book. Mr. Cole described the activities of his organization, founded in 1977. He told the audience that his small staff of four, supported by private funds, now works with a reading promotion network of 32 state affiliates and more than 80 national civic and educational organizations. "Building a Nation of Readers" is the center's national reading promotion theme for 1997-2000.
A young reading volunteer in the audience was interviewed, and the discussion then turned to the benefits of becoming a volunteer. Ms. Breedlove told how her program in Kansas City works with another organization dedicated to recruiting role models for children. She emphasized the importance of going where the children are, especially public libraries.
"When the parents come to pick up the children from the library, they can also pick up the literature about our program," she said.
A call-in question about how to serve children with special needs led to a discussion on this topic, with both Jack Batty and Carol Rasco noting the importance of a program from LC's National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped that supplies free tape-recorded, braille and large-print publications to people with disabilities through a network of regional and local libraries throughout the country.
Mr. Batty said that GE has recruited its retired engineers to help repair tape recorders that are loaned to individuals eligible for the program, while Ms. Breedlove reminded viewers that recorded books are not just for those with impaired sight; they can also be beneficial for retarded individuals who can't read on their own.
The program concluded with a checklist of things people can do to encourage reading, including the following:
- Read at least 30 minutes a day to your child.
- Become a partner in teaching someone to read.
- Learn at least one new vocabulary word each day.
- Get a library card.
A toll-free number was provided for further information: (800) USA-LEARN.
