When my grandmother (Julia) was in 8th grade, she was told by her step-mother that would be the end of her education. She was needed to help raise her young siblings on the small Wisconsin farm. She reluctantly agreed, after all it was 1926 and not many woman from her community were moving on to bigger and better things. Every single one of her younger siblings went on to graduate high school, some even went as far as college.
My grandmother always said if you can read you can do anything. She never recovered from the emotional frustrations that her lack of education caused. She encouraged her 5 children to pursue higher education.
People ask me why I do what I do (I help people learn how to read) and I think of my grandmother. Just because a person lacks education doesn't mean that person cannot encourage their child to become educated. Nor does it mean that person will be a drain on society. My grandmother was needed to help raise the abundance of children that was common for farm families.
Reading is life. Reading is important. Reading is who I am.
Even though this was nearly 90 years ago, this story is still very common. Many men and women (and even boys and girls) because of circumstance were unable to finish school. I am seeing more and more of this now. Just like the times of the Great Depression, people are compelled to have their children take on work to help offset family expenses. The assumption that kids today are lazy is wildly unfair. While I have encountered many 20 somethings who fit the lazy bill, I have also encountered many who desire to work, go to school and gain some independence from their family; a time honored tradition in our society.
Another scenario I see, daily, men over 45 who worked in the construction field for decades not being able to find work. The problem I see is the new way our culture has transformed job searching. Before one could walk into a business and be handed an application, now that person is directed to complete the application process online. This process includes a series of vague, non-descript questions that confuse even people with strong reading skills.
I try to imagine what my life would be like if I wasn’t an avid reader and I can’t. Reading is a huge part of who I am and have become. I cannot imagine my life without books. I sleep better at night when I read before bed. Reading is cathartic for me.
Try to imagine where you would be if you couldn’t read. Really think about this challenge. What aspects of your life wouldn’t exist? It’s hard to imagine, isn’t it?
