10 Reading Today • August/September 2007

Shanahan speech spotlights why we teach reading

T
he IRA Annual Convention in To-
ronto featured many enlightening
and practical presentations about
how to teach reading or build the habit
of reading. At the Opening General Ses-
sion, 2006–2007 IRA President Timothy
Shanahan gave an especially eloquent
address about why this work is so impor-
tant. In conference evaluations, attend-
ees ranked this address second among
their favorites, trailing only the presenta-
tion by Debra Winger and Dawn Anna.
Timothy Shanahan
delivers his address at
the Opening General
Session of the 2007
IRA Annual
Convention.
With that in mind, Reading Today is
pleased to present brief samplings from
Shanahan’s speech. You can access the
full text of the speech in the Reading To-
day section of the International Reading
Association’s website at www.reading.
org.
“At IRA, we usually talk about how to
teach reading or build the habit of read-
ing,” Shanahan said, “but today I want to
devote my remarks not to the how, but
to the why.
“Truth be told, I work both sides of the
street: I try to help children read better,
but I also try to reduce society’s inappro-
priate overreliance on literacy. You see,
I’m committed to a full-participation so-
ciety—one in which all individuals can
take part in and benefit from our shared
economic, civic, and social life. But that
can only happen if the requirements of
literacy balance with the levels of literacy
that can commonly be attained. We must
improve literacy levels, but we also need
to knock down the needless barriers that
literacy sometimes poses.”
Shanahan went on to give examples U.S. District Court for the Northern Dis-
of this relating to banking, mortgage trict of Illinois, Eastern Division con-
lending, elections, and health care. cluded that, indeed, the health infor-
Here’s one poignant example re- m a t i o n p rov i d e d t o t h e s e
lating to health care. parents was not adequately
“I live in Cook County, Il- accessible—to the low
linois, where 600,000
“We must educated, to the non-
children live in poverty,” improve literacy English speaker, to the
Shanahan said. “U.S. disabled (Memisovski
law requires medical levels, but we also v. Maran, 2004).
care for poor children— need to knock down ”Judge Lefkow
including annual physi- ruled that Human
cals, glasses, and dental the needless barriers Services of fices
care. However, more that literacy needed t o employ
than 450,000 of these communications spe-
children have never seen sometimes poses.” cialists who could write
a doctor. For this reason, such texts at more acces-
the Sargent Shriver National sible levels and that they
Center for Poverty Law sued the had to go even further. They
state of Illinois over this horrific situ- had to recognize that no matter
ation. I testified on the elements of the how readable this information could be
case that turned on literacy. I examined made, that communicating solely in
the explanations of this program that writing, solely through the literacy which
were mailed to the parents, foster par- we in this room are so passionate about,
ents, and guardians of these children and would not convey this critical informa-
found that the information was too diffi- tion to all parents and that therefore
cult; there was no way these mothers they had to tell parents—using oral
and fathers could know of their children’s language—what medical care was avail-
rights, that these services were free, or able to their kids. As much as I revere
how to obtain them. literacy, I so much appreciate Judge
“In a landmark decision widely hailed Lefkow’s recognition that sometimes lit-
by Civil Rights groups and health groups eracy places too high a barrier and that
like the American Academy of Pediatrics— lowering that barrier in certain essential
and in response to the testimony I pro- areas—like children’s health care—is the
vided, Judge Joan Lefkow, ruling for the safest way to go.” V

IRA and Rotary: Moving forward in partnership

R
otary International is a world- opment. The Rotary motto is “Service global literacy. They wanted to know of Judy Backlund and Phil Backlund of
wide organization of business Above Self.” more about how they could best get the Ellensburg Morning Rotary Club,
and professional leaders that In 2005, Rotary International and the involved. Malik said. For further information, con-
provides humanitarian service, encour- International Reading Association signed On a different note, Malik learned tact Malik at smalik@reading.org.
ages high ethical standards in all voca- a memorandum of understanding to about some of the challenges that need Watch for additional articles about
tions, and helps build goodwill and support worldwide literacy. However, to be addressed in making the IRA/RI IRA/RI partnership activities in upcom-
peace in the world. Approximately 1.2 the precise nature of cooperating proj- collaboration successful in supporting lit- ing issues of Reading Today. If you know
million Rotarians belong to more than ects is still evolving. eracy on a global scale. One challenge, examples of successful IRA/RI collabora-
32,000 clubs in more than 200 It was in this spirit that some especially in rural Rotary clubs, is finding tions, please send the information to
countries and geographi- of the greater Washing- ways to move from good intentions to Reading Today at readingtoday@reading.
cal areas worldwide. ton State Rotary clubs action on the part of club members. Af- org. V
Rotary club mem- The overarching invited Sakil Malik, ter some discussion, the answer seems to
bers represent a goal of the visit was to senior project of- be providing clubs with some in-place
cross-section of ficer in IRA’s In- projects ranging from small to large that
the community’s explore possible projects at ternational Devel- they can choose to support if they
business and pro-
fessional men and
the grassroots level. opment Division,
to visit seven differ-
desire.
The meetings represented a worth- Dual-language
women. The world’s
Rotary clubs meet weekly
ent clubs between
April 22 and April 27,
while exploration for IRA and Rotary, Ma-
lik concluded. Project ideas were explored,
options put Omaha
and are nonpolitical, nonreli- 2007. The overarching goal of initial conversations took place, and net- schools in vanguard

T
gious, and open to all cultures, races, the visit was to explore possible projects working began. Next year, Ellensburg,
and creeds. at the grassroots level. Other goals were Washington, will be the site of a Rotary he Omaha school district is poised
Rotary’s main objective is service— to call attention in local Rotary clubs to district conference that will include 35 to become the only district in the
service in the community, in the work- the IRA/RI agreement, discuss possible clubs from central British Columbia and state—and one of only 10 public
place, and throughout the world. Rotar- projects, and acquaint IRA with the 25 clubs from Central Washington. districts nationwide—to offer a dual-
ians develop community service projects workings of local Rotary clubs. Malik met with both the incoming language immersion program for stu-
that address many of today’s most criti- In his presentations, Malik had the district governor and the assistant dis- dents from kindergarten through gradu-
cal issues, such as children at risk, pov- opportunity to find out how Rotary clubs trict governor, who are in charge of this ation. Achievement results presented to
erty and hunger, the environment, illit- of various sizes and from different com- conference. In order to maintain this the Omaha school board recently indi-
eracy, and violence. They also support munities function. He also was able to budding partnership, some workshops cate that elementary students who are
programs for youth; educational oppor- hear the types of international projects on the various IRA/RI partnership proj- learning in both Spanish and English are
tunities and international exchanges for that are currently in process through ects and continuing discussions were scoring better in reading and math than
students, teachers, and other profes- these clubs. The clubs were very enthusi- proposed. This outreach effort was made their schoolmates who are taught only
sionals; and vocational and career devel- astic about IRA and its efforts to support possible by the support and leadership in English. V