[Durham INC] The Reading Bill

[Richard Ford]

I'm posting the answers from Mary Carey of Bootstraps. 

All I will add is that Bootstraps has tremendous energy, focus, optimism and expertise.

Dick

Hi-
 
Bootstraps is a Triangle wide, nonpartisan, all volunteer political action committee.  Our goal is an educated and productive citizenry for Durham, Wake and Chapel Hill.  We believe every citizen  being able to read is vital to this goal.  We hope to engage individuals, organizations and businesses in addressing this very important problem.  In Durham 44% of students failed the reading end of grade test.  In Wake one in four failed.  In Chapel Hill 13% failed*.  That may sound good unless of course you are one of the 13%!
 
If you can’t read you can’t learn.  There are correlations between illiteracy and the dropout rate, drug and alcohol abuse, unemployment, crime and many other societal ills.  Illiteracy is incredibly painful for the individual and it is devastating for a society.  Even home values are affected by low reading scores in a community.  I guess my point is that so many students not being able to read is all of our problem and we need everyone’s help addressing it.
 
We are Moms and Dads of struggling readers.  We are concerned citizens, business owners, volunteers, students—anyone who cares and wants to help children be successful in school.  If you would like to be kept up to date on the work we are doing please reply with your name and email and you will be added to our list.  I promise that emails only go out if something important is occurring.  You can go to our website:  www.bootstrapspac.org to learn about volunteer opportunities.
 
Our board members are:  Mark Trustin, George Horton and Stacey Yusko.  Deborah Pausback is our Durham campaign contact.  I am happy to answer any additional questions.  Thank you for inquiring!
 
Mary Carey
www.bootstrapspac.org
919-522-9610

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 12, 2012, at 5:19 PM, KJJarrett <kjj1bg at yahoo.com> wrote:

> What is "Bootstrap pac"? Who's behind it? 
> 
> From: Richard Ford <rbford at aim.com>
> To: INC <inc-list at rtpnet.org> 
> Cc: Mary Carey <marycarey at nc.rr.com> 
> Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2012 11:11 AM
> Subject: [Durham INC] The Reading Bill
> 
> Given our recent postings on literacy, I thought you would be interested in the following email from Bootstraps.
> 
> Also please note the second email which is a clarification.
> 
> 
> Dick
> 
> Begin forwarded message:
> 
>> 
>> Subject: The Reading Bill
>> 
>> http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/06/10/2125946/reading-bill-modeled-after-fl
>> orida.html
>> 
>> Yesterday's News and Observer had this article on the front page.  We are
>> thrilled  that the literacy problem in our state is part of the conversation
>> among elected officials.  Many of you receiving this email are experts in
>> the field of literacy.  It would be wonderful to see letters to the editor
>> or op-ed pieces written with your reaction to this bill.  Even if you are
>> not an expert please write to the N&O at www.newsobserver.com and click on
>> "opinion" to submit a letter with your thoughts.
>> 
>> This is a very important piece of legislation and it would benefit all of
>> these struggling readers to have many letters written on their behalf.
>> 
>> Thank you!
>> 
>> Mary Carey
>> www.bootstrapspac.org
>> 919-522-9610
> 
> Begin forwarded message:
> 
>> 
>> Subject: clarification
>> 
>> Hello All-
>>  
>> When I wrote earlier regarding the current bill on reading I said this was “an important bill.”  I did not mean “important good” or “important bad.”  It is important because it will have a big impact on the kids that we are representing.
>>  
>> I hoped to encourage anyone who might have strong feelings about the bill to write to the newspaper or their representatives.  This bill merits a great deal of discussion.  Please let your voice be heard!
>>  
>> I have numerous concerns about this bill.  My most immediate concern is that there wasn’t a paragraph indicating that recognized experts in reading instruction were consulted when drafting this bill.  If a bill needed to be passed on organ transplant procedures, doctors would be called in to advise—wouldn’t they?
>>  
>> Many of these kids failing the 3rd grade reading test have been struggling since kindergarten and have probably already repeated a grade.  When we were faced with this decision I was told by a friend who works in the mental health field that for a child, the stress caused by flunking a grade is equivalent to that of the death of a parent.  We need to really understand what is best for the child and not think a quick fix like repeating a grade will be a magic wand.
>>  
>> There are many elements to being a successful reader.  Let’s call on our elected leaders to really investigate this problem and draw on research to develop the very best solution for these kids.
>>  
>> Thanks for fighting for all of the struggling readers!
>>  
>> Mary Carey
>> www.bootstrapspac.org
>> 919-522-9610
>>  
>>  
>> 
>> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Durham INC Mailing List
> list at durham-inc.org
> http://www.durham-inc.org/list.html
> 
> 
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