THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 8, 1994 TAG: 9410080281
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Sporting bright orange T-shirts with ``Today's Children Are Tomorrow's Future'' printed on them, cheerleaders from Young Park Elementary School began to chant: ``One book, two books, three books a dollar, all for reading stand up and HOLLER.''
More than 800 of the city's first-graders thought that was a good idea.
``YEAAAH,'' they shouted, from the bleachers at Booker T. Washington High School's outdoor track.
``V-I-C-T-O-R-Y, that's our reading battle cry,'' the cheerleading squad answered.
Nothing - not even a bomb threat - could dampen the hope and enthusiasm that permeated a rally Friday morning to kick off a new reading program for Norfolk's 10 majority-black community schools.
It will take that kind of commitment and determination, educators said, to help hundreds of the school system's most disadvantaged first-graders become motivated readers, a key to success in school and in later life.
``We don't let anything stop us,'' said Ruby Greer, principal of Young Park Elementary and an organizer of the rally. ``We are challengers - we go for it.''
Booker T. officials evacuated the high school for about 90 minutes after receiving the bomb threat at 8:25 a.m. Booker T. band students, scheduled to perform at the reading rally, were unable to change into their uniforms but showed up to play after a state police bomb squad combed the school and found nothing.
The incident was quickly forgotten as the rally refocused thoughts on education and the importance of teaching children to read.
School officials, invoking the African proverb that it takes an entire village to raise a child, hope to heavily involve families and the community in this reading initiative.
``The schools just can't do this by themselves,'' Greer said.
Young Park, which draws most of its students from public housing neighborhoods, took the lead in applying for a $5,040 grant that will fund the reading initiative, named ``Running Start.''
The nationwide program is funded largely by the Chrysler Corp.
The money will buy about 3,000 books for the 10 schools, said Connie Zimmerman, an education specialist at Young Park. In return, the children are expected to read or have read to them 21 books over a 10-week period. They will keep at least one of the books.
``We want to make it so every child is a winner, something to get them all excited about reading,'' Zimmerman said.
At the rally, Norfolk Vice Mayor Paul Riddick offered words of encouragement and read a proclamation from Mayor Paul Fraim that designated Friday ``Running Start Day.''
Educators realize, though, that it will take more than slogans and proclamations to improve the dismal performance of students at the community schools, attended almost entirely by black students since the city in 1986 stopped elementary school busing for integration.
Fourth-graders at all but one of the schools, Bowling Park, last year scored significantly below the national average in reading comprehension on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. Reading scores at five of the schools - Campostella, Jacox, Monroe, Roberts Park and Tidewater Park - were in the bottom quarter.
Parents who attended the rally said they plan to help their children reach the Running Start goals. But teaching a kid to read can be frustrating for both parent and child.
``You have to have patience and time,'' said Juanita McIntyre, whose 6-year-old daughter attends Monroe. ``I think it's going to work. They are really excited about it.''
``It always starts at home,'' said Valerie Warren, who showed up because her daughter, Veronica, is a drum major in Booker T.'s band. ``We make the first impression on them and they're lasting ones. You teach them well at home, and the teachers won't have any problem, and maybe that child can put (that teaching) in his friends.''
First-graders at the rally said they liked books and bragged about plans to read even more than the 21 required books.
``I can read a hundred,'' said Ivory Knight, 6, who attends Campostella. ``Reading is fun to learn stuff.'' ILLUSTRATION: ALL FOR READING STAND UP AND HOLLER
MOTOYA NAKAMURA/Staff
Campostella Elementary School students cheer during the kickoff
Friday at Booker T. Washington High of a new reading program.
by CNB