Why Literacy Matters
By: Shatoria Whiteside, M.Ed
As the seasons change and Fall rolls in, my Friday nights have come to involve me rushing home from an impactful day of teaching literacy to cheering loudly and excitedly at my little brother’s high school football games. The (formerly little) guy is a senior in high school this year. Time flies, and it’s a precious gift that we must maximize every chance we get, especially as it pertains to education.
A few weeks ago, I remember leaving the game feeling a weight, a sympathetic burden for many players on the team. They all put in so much effort. However, despite their hard work ethic and dedication, their season hasn’t been as desirable as they hoped. Many of those boys give it all they have to make it to the next level. See, many times in communities of color, sports are pushed heavily because it’s seen as a way out of disparaging situations. Statistics state that fewer than 2 percent of student athletes make it to the professional sports arena. To put that in perspective, if there are 100 student athletes, only 2 have a chance of making it. As vital as education is, being a proficient reader is a challenge many students face at every grade level, even at the collegiate level when foundational instruction has not been grasped along the way. This is a reality that I see each day as a literacy educator. I work very hard to empower, equip, and educate students and families with the tools and resources needed to overcome this stigma. I remember leaving that game feeling burdened because I wondered what the kids who didn’t have the means to succeed outside the football field would do. I was concerned about how they could have been left this way, even though they attend school on a daily basis. My educator’s heart is always in operation, and I’m aware that the need, time, and resources often outweigh the help available to those who need support to become better readers.
Last night’s football game was Homecoming, and we were proud to witness my little brother be crowned Homecoming king. We were so proud of him! Not only was he crowned Homecoming King, but he is also Senior Class President, has over a 4.0 GPA, and has already received offers for full academic scholarships to four-year institutions. There was so much to celebrate, but I couldn’t help but notice the heads of the players that were dropped low as they looked at the scoreboard. It was as if they equated their chances at success with the time on the scoreboard, dwindling away and fleeting. I’ve had conversations with my brother about how some of his teammates see football as their way out. However, there is the vehicle of literacy that can drive one out of poverty and open many doors of opportunity when it’s accessible and prioritized. Literacy matters! Our children need to become great readers; their lives and futures depend on it.
Although we come from very humble beginnings, we come from a household where education is heavily pushed, and we were given tools to be successful that were within our reach. Sadly this is not the reality for many students and families. Statistics state that when parents are educated, they are able to educate their children. There is also a direct correlation between families that live in poverty and low education and reading levels. Without intervention, the cycle usually continues for generations and becomes the norm, although nothing about it is normal. New reading data released post-Covid shows that students are now struggling more than ever with reading and the social and emotional effects of the pandemic. This means we are now fighting more than cracks in the literacy foundation when trying to remedy this issue.
We can’t afford to skip out on teaching proficiency in reading, though it seems like a mounting callous that we’re fighting to combat each day. Literacy is THE vehicle that can take us anywhere, figuratively and literally. Literacy matters! Our quality of life depends on it! Particularly for this next generation, who have so many odds stacked against them. Even with the odds stacked, I’m hopeful because I get the incredible privilege of meeting struggling readers and desperate parents. It’s a joy to see them grow by leaps and bounds under my instruction, so there is hope!
Literacy, along with a solid education foundation, is why my little brother can be successful on and off the football field. Whether he chooses football or forensics, he will be successful. Although some of his counterparts feel that football is their only way out, there is so much opportunity for them on the other side of education. Every student should have this option. Reading fundamentally serves as a vehicle that opens doors; it also solidifies our identities, equipping us with knowledge that can’t be stripped away like so many opportunities have been. Education matters; it gives us choices. Literacy gives us leverage and makes us aware. It causes us to challenge and question systems that are harmful to us or perpetuate a particular narrative. Every student deserves an opportunity. An equitable education. Every student deserves a chance, and proficiency in literacy affords those opportunities. Success in any subject is directly correlated to being literate. Chant with me, It matters!
We can all do our part to chip away at this mounting matter of concern. As an educator, community member, and mother, I’m working hard to ensure that my children and the families I serve have every tool, resource, and opportunity needed to be successful. Sometimes that means seeing a family on a Saturday before benchmarks to ensure that they are prepared or sitting in on an I.E.P. (Individualized education plan) meeting to advocate for one of my students or simplifying verbiage for a parent about what is being communicated in a way they can understand it.
How can you do your part? It starts at home. Make reading a part of everyday life from the very beginning. If just for twenty minutes. If you have older learners, cater to their interests. Present material that is relatable and culturally relative. Volunteer in the school system. Donate to organizations like ours, R.E.A.D., that are doing the work to impact change in our communities. I cannot say it enough, Literacy matters. Our children need to become great readers; their lives and futures depend on it.
