Letters to the Editor

The Comet welcomes letters to the editor responding to articles and events in the news. They must include the author's name, address and telephone number. The letter writer's name and city/town will appear in the paper no exceptions. Letters must be 400 words or less in length. Please send your letters to: editor@ carrollcountycomet.com; Letters to the Editor, Comet, P.O. Box 26, Flora, IN 46929 or P.O. Box 179, Delphi, IN 46923; or fax 574-967-3384 or 765-564-2010. By submitting a letter or opinion article, the author grants the Comet the right to publish, distribute, archive or use the work in print, electronic, on-line or other format.

Students + reading

= success

When we think of what we wish for our children and the future of Indiana, we can all agree we want fluent, avid readers. To read, they must have access to books. To develop a passion for reading, they must have interesting, age-appropriate books - and let's be honest -current and appealing ones as well.

If Indiana schools are going to prepare our students to be competitive in this global society; they must have the resources necessary to encourage reading and vocabulary development. That is why the Indiana State Reading Association is joining coalition of organizations to implore the 2007 Indiana General Assembly to reinstate the School Library Printed Materials Grant. From 1997-2202, the Indiana General Assembly initiated this grant providing up to $6 million a year to purchase new books and other printed materials. When the School Library Printed Material Grant was eliminated in the 2002-2003 school year due to budgetary constraints, both book purchases and circulation declined dramatically. Even more disturbing, prior to the 1997 dollar-fordollar matching grant program, the average book on the school library shelf was printed in the 1960s.

The expense for this grant is a minimal investment in the future our children and state. According to the recent issue of Indiana Libraries, Indiana schools' expenditures for books are significantly below the national average with funding that won't even buy a single new book per student per year. That may be partially why a 2001 national study by the University of Maryland reported 70 percent of eighth-grade students believe reading is boring, and more than 55 percent perform below a basic reading level.

To acquire the advanced reading skills necessary to succeed on high-stakes tests and in the workplace, current books are essential. But more importantly, current books and newspapers are required to foster the love of reading and desire for a lifetime of success. Young readers must get the "feel" of reading by turning pages, curling up on the couch and being immersed in the wonder of the experience. This just can't be done in front of a computer or handheld wireless device. Young adults need to realize books are portable too! With a small investment in school library materials, we can cultivate readers and make Indiana's economic future brighter by strengthening the skills of its young citizens.

As the 2007 Indiana General Assembly gears up, Gov. Mitch Daniels, Superintendent of Public Instruction Suellen Reed and each legislator must make reinstating the School Library Printed Materials Grant a priority.

Libby Turner President, Indiana State

Reading Association