Literacy is the greatest gift anyone could give to another human being. That’s it. That’s my column. Have a nice day. The end. (Phone rings . . . it’s Bill Morgan . . . he’s demanding more on this subject . . .).
There’s little doubt that as an English teacher, I am quite biased about the importance of literacy. But if one thinks about it for a minute, it’s certainly plausible to envision the ability to read as being the best gift one could ever receive. It’s allowed me to do many things in my life, such as making my own decisions on whom to vote for and not having to rely on biased information (or texts from random strangers) to reach my conclusions. Literacy is the great equalizer, allowing me to travel to exotic places (fantasy novels), walk a mile in someone else’s shoes (autobiographies), and experience some of the greatest historical achievements ever accomplished in our great nation (nonfiction).
Armed with my ability to read, I feel prepared for most things because I can think for myself, learn new things (I’ll admit Youtube helps with this, too) and decipher complicated information to find out what’s truly important. Without the ability to read, I am unsure if I would be able to be successful in my pursuit of happiness.
I owe a debt of gratitude to two important literacy warriors in my life- my Grandma (Margaret) Knutson and my mom. I call them warriors because it takes courage, passion and perseverance to ensure that the children in one’s life become readers.
My grandma was a school board member and a teacher in Becker and several other school districts. “Mrs. Knutson” was incredibly intelligent, as the 1966 BHS yearbook listed her as a teacher of German II, English 7, Math 7-8 and Algebra 9-11. She was also talented in the Science disciplines and taught several courses in those subjects over the years. When I was younger, I remember her stressing the importance of reading, as well as the need for me to behave in Mrs. Nelson’s class. I was rambunctious to say the least, but she was friends with Mrs. Nelson and tomfoolery would not be tolerated. Mrs. Nelson was also a wonderful teacher of reading, as were many of my elementary instructors.
My mom was a big time pusher . . . of books. I still have the first full series I ever read, The Happy Hollisters. They were similar to Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys, but the Hollisters were an entire family of sleuths who solved the great mysteries of life surrounding their father’s General Store. Fun stories, great lessons and a strong sense of morality (whether I realized that at age 8 or not) made the months between book releases gut wrenching as I waited for the next edition.
I know we didn’t have a lot of money growing up, but we did have our pride and the belief that reading was fundamental to being able to determine our own course in life. There always seemed to be the necessary funds to purchase books, and I always made the most of those elementary school Scholastic order forms back in the day.
Reading was never forced on me, but my mom modeled it well and I guess I just grew up realizing that loving books was important and also fun. Loads of fun. Forty years later I can still remember being enthralled with Lloyd Alexander’s character, Taran, and his exploits as a pig farmer who wanted more in life.
I can also vividly recall the pact I made with my friends in fourth grade that we would all read Watership Down for no other reason except at 413 pages, it was the biggest book in the entire library. It was probably a little over my head at the time, but it sure was exciting to read about all those rabbits!
So the next time an adult complains about kids not putting down their video games or lacking the reading skills they think are necessary, I challenge them to do something about it.
Bless those expecting parents with some great children’s books so there is always something good to read in the house. The research is crystal clear that once a child is born, it’s never too early to start reading to them and it will have a great impact on their literacy levels.
If there’s a child in your life, include a book or magazine as one of their presents for their birthday or at Christmas. It sends a great message.
Need an escape from all the negativity in life? Pick up a good book. Read it. Pass it along to a friend or neighbor. Buy or borrow another one and repeat cycle.
I owe a debt of gratitude to both of the wonderful women in my life who paved the way for my own personal literacy. Every day in my day job, I try to pay it forward.
Remember, it’s never too late to become a literacy warrior for someone important in your life.
