March 2, 2003

Pathway to the World

Reg Weaver
President, NEA

The late Carl Sagan said this about reading: "Frederick Douglass taught that literacy is the path from slavery to freedom. There are many kinds of slavery and many kinds of freedom. But reading is still the path."

And there are lots of guideposts along that path.

Reading is the foundation upon which intellect and imagination take shape. It is a complex task that engages 16 different portions of the brain simultaneously, unlike talking, which uses less than half as many portions of the brain.

Yet reading instruction sometimes stirs up a hornet's nest, because of the many paths that individual children take as they learn to read.

We support a balanced approach to reading instruction, because we know that no single way to teach all children exists. For some children, identification of the words on paper is most important, but for others, learning the phonemes-the sounds out of which words are made-is most important. And for other students, what works is a mix of both.

Educators do a fantastic job of guiding young readers by assessing reading skills and providing encouragement. With older readers, teachers don't just rely on book reports to generate discussion: they engage their students using book clubs, author studies, and even "literary cafes."

Librarians are also invaluable allies to reading instruction. They not only create spaces for reading, but also teach students crucial research skills for navigating bookshelves and the Internet. What's more, they are experts at recommending just the right book to complete an assignment, project, or personal enjoyment.

Of course, among the most crucial guides along the reading path is parents.

Working with teachers, parents should reinforce what's learned in school. Research shows that reading to young children regularly and ensuring that reading materials are readily available for children of all ages are crucial to reading and academic success. And when the homework is completed, parents should balance their children's television viewing and computer games with reading.

Also, let's not neglect the importance of our communities to support reading. Research shows that students who live in places that have an abundance of books in public libraries and overall easy access to books show higher academic achievement.

Communities nationwide will be in the spotlight on March 3rd. "Read Across America," a campaign developed and launched by NEA, is a fun step along the path to a nation of readers. No matter how individual students learn how to read, practice makes perfect for academic success and critical thinking.

Simply put, research proves what common sense makes plain: students who are avid readers are better students.

Reading shouldn't be a precarious path but a joyful journey. Nothing is more magical than the gift of reading-the simple, yet profound act that can take us around the world in the turn of a page. And guiding a child's path to the world is a responsibility we all share.

Reg Weaver

President, National Education Association

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