Editor’s Note: This is part of a series sharing the values of the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading.
The E in I CAN READ — the values statement for the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading– represents “enduring.” The Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading strives to partner with a purpose to focus on building lasting relationships to ensure sustainability of positive outcomes for children and families long past the life of the collaboration.
As with any important societal movement, the Campaign is not only focused on today’s young children but also on outcomes that impact their children, grandchildren, and the generations that will follow.
This movement is designed to break a generational cycle that has endured for far too long. Children who come from environments where reading is not a priority, where their homes have few—if any—books, where their parents do not cherish the act of reading are set up for failure.
Carl Sagan said, “If you grow up in a household where there are books, where you are read to, where parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins read for their own pleasure, naturally you learn to read. If no one close to you takes joy in reading, where is the evidence that it’s worth the effort?”
We envision a community where all generations find joy in reading. Such a community will have very high graduation rates and large numbers of students moving on to postsecondary education. Proud families will applaud, cry, laugh, and celebrate as graduation caps are thrown high in the air. In this community, the love of reading will endure.
photo credit: The Library 7 via photopin (license)
