Reading.
Without the ability to read, adults cannot read instructions on a medicine bottle.
They cannot read business signs.
They cannot read the works of Shakespeare, the best-sellers of John Grisham. They cannot read the Bible.
They cannot read operational instructions.
They cannot read employee manuals.
They cannot read the Internet or e-mails.
They cannot read to their children.
They cannot read this editorial.
Reading is a fundamental part of daily life. Reading is not a luxury. Reading is a necessity for an individual’s success in the world. Reading is a necessity for a society and a nation’s continued prosperity in this world.
Through its adult-literacy program, Valdosta Technical College has battled to maintain the educational and employment viability of South Georgia and its residents. More than 500 adults are enrolled in the local literacy program. Hundreds of others have benefited from these programs.
Those benefits range from better employment opportunities for individuals and a stronger work force for the region to the simple parental pleasures of reading to one’s children.
Through no fault of Val-Tech, the adult-literacy program is in danger.
A recent amendment in the state’s 2007 budget left a shortfall of funds for the adult-literacy programs in Georgia’s technical college system. One proposal suggests that technical colleges suspend their adult-literacy programs and their teachers’ salaries for the month of June, but closing the programs could mean losing many students forever and the teachers cannot afford to go without pay for a month or possibly longer.
Valdosta Technical College proposes a different solution. It proposes continuing its adult-literacy programs despite the budget shortfall.
To do this, Val-Tech needs the financial help of the community.
Val-Tech President Dr. Robert Abene has created Project BOLD (Boosting Our Literacy Drive).
“Beginning with financial donations from 100 percent of the college’s executive team and leadership council, Valdosta Tech is inviting individuals, organizations, and businesses from the six-county service area (Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes) to send contributions to the Project BOLD initiative,” Abene said. “The community’s generosity will help defray the $39,685 needed to support Valdosta Tech’s Adult Literacy Program.”
Abene has stressed that this is an urgent need. For the program to continue, these funds must be raised by May 31.
Literacy is an investment in the region’s future. The ability to read is a promise not just for the one learning but for the entire community.
Those who cannot read may not be able to read the writing on the wall, but they will feel the repercussions. The questions now is, Will those who can read the writing on the wall do all they can to change a bad situation into a BOLD initiative of promise?
