This week, I was with a group of pastors in Ames discussing literacy in our schools. The startling statistic is that between 20 and 25% of our city’s public schools’ third graders can not read at a third grade level. This is ominous news because research has shown that after third grade a shift takes place. Teachers stop teaching students to learn to read and start helping them read to learn. If a child can’t read by the end of third grade, he or she will get farther and farther behind in school. Research has shown that students who still can’t read after third grade are less likely to graduate from high school and enroll in college. As a community we should make every effort to increase the number of literate third graders in our public schools from only 75% to as close to 100% as possible. See study here.
One of the pastors from our area (who incidentally owns no property and pays no property taxes) declared that the solution to the fact that 25% of third graders from our schools can’t read is simple: increase property taxes, create a new government program, require by law that students to attend. He was cheered by several of the pastors.
I say NO! That’s what we are doing now. Why do we think that doing more of the same will have different results? As believers, especially as pastors, let’s not immediately turn to the government to solve community problems. Rather than passing on responsibility to the government, let’s take opportunity as believers to express Christian concern for the needy in our community.
See post from the next meeting of this group: A simple solution for local poverty and the fiscal cliff?
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- Capturing Lessons from God
- Friday Book Review: Future of the Global Church by Patrick Johnstone, 5 Stars
Couldn’t agree with you more, Tim! This is exactly where and how members of the Church demonstrate their faith in the world. Back in Roman times, Christians ministered to those suffering from the plague. They didn’t wait for a government program, and eventually, those who worshipped pagan gods saw that Christians lived a profoundly different and more hopeful life. The Church grew exponentially, but more importantly, masses of people put their faith in Jesus Christ. The literacy challenges may not be battling the plague, but as you lay out the repercussions, it’s a significant issue of our times (without the risk of death). Did you challenge the non-tax-paying pastors on this point?
Sorry to say, I was too stunned both in the comment and the reaction of the other pastors. They actually encouraged him to attend city council with his idea. I wish I would have challenged the idea at the time.
Makes me sad Tim. The church’s reflexive response was not to serve, but to call on the government…I am currently helping out in our local high school by sitting and reading with two seniors who read below a 5th grade level. It cost me 2 hours a week. The kids love the chance to slow down and learn, as opposed to being laughed at when called on to read in the general classroom. Stats show that 95% of kids who graduate and can’t read will be in prison in 5 years. By the way, the reason I am doing this is because a teacher in our church made the request during a time of reflection on how we could use our gifts better to serve the church. Come on Christians….lets make a stand! Show some love! Get our hands dirty! Experience the joy of service!
Greg, thanks for the example.
In defense of all those teachers out there who may be reading this, I would like to make my point. If these teachers are working at a school that still uses text books, they have a real dilmma on their hands. They not only have to now teach how to read a text book, but also they have the tedious task of teaching spelling at a very difficult level. This is the spelling level where the vowels change!
If you are a teacher out there who has seen a formerly active and happy student become withdrawn and introverted, please check out this website for dyslexia:
http://www.dys-add.com/
In the third grade the vowel patterns change. It makes a huge difference if you are willing to investigate. Check out the warning signs of dyslexia:
http://www.dys-add.com/dyslexia.html#anchorSymptomsWarningSigns
Thanks for the resources.