LETTER: Help break illiteracy cycle

Dear Editor,

I recently read the article about the reading program at Bridgerland. This is an awesome program. It is extremely important for people to read, not only for them to receive a job, but also for health reasons.

For example, if they have small children at home and have cleaning supplies in the house, it becomes problematic if the child swallows some of that cleaning solution. Most safety directions are written on the label of the product. Parents need to know what do if their child swallows poisons.

As stated in the article, “Most people are not going to walk up and say ‘I can’t read.'”

The question then becomes how can we help those who do not know how to read? As one who is in the schools often, I have seen many children who are struggling with reading, are teased because of it and then never have that desire to learn.

“Education and awareness can help solve the problem.” (Jenkins) What are teachers/students of the university willing to do to solve this problem of adult literacy? We need to let people know that not knowing how to read does not make the person stupid or incapable. If we can educate the children on reading they can become reading adults, thus ending the cycle.

Staci Hankins