THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 11, 1996 TAG: 9610110007
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 25 lines
As both a new school year and the presidential election campaign are upon us, issues of education and literacy are very much on the public's mind.
In America today, as reported by the National Institute for Literacy in Washington, D.C., 1 million children between the ages of 12 and 17 cannot read above the 3rd grade level. Eighty-five percent of the juveniles who appear in criminal court are functionally illiterate; nearly 30 million American adults have serious problems with literacy.
Love Reading is a national campaign that seeks to combat illiteracy and bring the joys of books and reading to children and adults alike. The program was created by Women's American ORT, a volunteer organization that has worked diligently to promote quality public education since 1927.
A Love Reading kit, filled with resource materials, bibliographies of quality books for children and tips for parents, is available from our National Office. We urge your readers to become involved by calling 1-800-51-WAORT for a free Love Reading kit.
DORENE BERGER
Virginia Beach, Sept. 27, 1996 by CNB