| We need a grass roots campaign targeted | | | | the food chain leadership and PR teams working |
| towards parents to have books around the house. | | | | on inexpensive simple ways to touch home with |
| Reading times where TV is turned off and kids | | | | America on this issue. Let's talk to America about |
| are reading. The parents can read what ever | | | | reading. |
| they want, the newspaper, a novel, picture book, | | | | Encourage kids to read and the kids will encourage |
| magazine, perhaps mix it up a little something | | | | the parents to read and we can raise the literacy |
| different each night. With plenty of reading | | | | rates 30% in a single decade. It can be done and |
| material around the house. There should be public | | | | it ought to be a continued focus to do so. |
| service announcements in the Media and the | | | | We know from reading that many of the |
| Media should also be involved along with the TV | | | | outstanding super star achievers of our time |
| and Movie industry. | | | | were big time readers. Remember the story of |
| There should be consideration also from | | | | Bill Gate's who read the entire encyclopedia in |
| entertainers. Sports people, leadership in | | | | grade school? Think of it, when we get everyone |
| government. Carrying books around with them to | | | | back reading again how many new innovations will |
| and from an interview, etc. Show kids that | | | | propel this country to greater heights>? We will |
| reading is important and part of what is not only | | | | not have to worry about the up and coming |
| expected but how you do things in this life. | | | | generation when it is their turn to take control of |
| Usually when you meet someone who is smart | | | | the wheel. A little extra effort now, will change |
| and has it together they are readers and they | | | | the world for the better in the next period. We |
| are readers because their parents were too and | | | | can make it so. |
| their parents, the grandparents also. You see, | | | | Much work has been done and more must be |
| reading starts at home, with a desire and | | | | done as this is so very vital to the future of |
| understanding. Kids emulate what they see and if | | | | America. |
| they see parents and friends parents reading, that | | | | [ |
| is what they will do. On TV sit coms, the people | | | | [ |
| should be seen holding and reading books, | | | | After which time all the name calling is done in the |
| discussing topics in the book as part of the act | | | | newspapers during this election season and thank |
| and there should be book shelves on the set too. | | | | god so many people cannot read yet as we |
| DVD and Big Screen Movies too. Talk shows | | | | often are our own worst enemies carrying on like |
| should have books behind them in the background. | | | | this, we all need to bury the hachet and support |
| Think what a large statement, which can be | | | | reading and help the First Lady in her continued |
| made in such a non-obtrusive, subliminal way. | | | | efforts to put books back in front of Americans |
| When discussing this with teachers who have | | | | again. We must all be committed to this program |
| gone to the parent’s houses for parent | | | | and all reach out to our children and all Americans |
| meetings, they have told me that the smartest | | | | to boost the literacy rates. This maybe the single |
| and best readers of their classes were those kids | | | | most important thing we do for the future of our |
| whose parents had books around the house. My | | | | nation. Without strong academics and it all starts |
| parents had books around the house, did yours? | | | | with reading we will see our job base erode away |
| How did this affect you? I guess we shouldn't be | | | | to other lands where they take things more |
| surprised about this at all should we? | | | | seriously. The future workforce of America will |
| If parents are going to take the kids out for | | | | need to be smarter than ever before and I |
| snacks, why not a Barnes and Noble or Borders | | | | believe we are up for the challenge, now is the |
| Book Store? Parents should have books in the car | | | | time to act. |
| too. So when they drop the kids off or have to | | | | By bringing the literacy rates, grades, |
| wait for them returning from various activities | | | | expectations, I.Q.'s and awareness up, we can |
| that they drive them around in their SUVs then | | | | keep the prison population, unemployment rates |
| the kids and their friends will see them reading, | | | | and crime stats down. Surely you must agree |
| this is a very good thing. | | | | that this is by far one of the most worthy |
| We must plead to the parents, we need their | | | | endeavors of our present period. One, which is |
| help. We need continued passion from the top of | | | | worth every Americans time to pursue indeed. |