Reading is FINANCIAL!
- by: Stephanie D. Travitsky, Public Librarian
- recipient: To stop U.S. President George W. from eliminating Reading Is Fundamental
Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), is a program that was established by Margaret McNamara, wife of Robert McNamara. Robert McNamara was the Secretary of Defense under former United States presidents John F.Kennedy (JFK), and Lyndon Banes Johnson (LBJ). Believing that underprivileged children should not be illiterate, Margaret McNamra suggested that the American government should give away books to them. Some of these children come from low-income families, they are homeless, disabled, or are Foster Children. Her program became federal in 1975.
Since 1975, Reading Is Fundamental has been widely successful. Through RIF, tons of books are distributed to children and teenagers all over the United States, and in United States Military bases across the globe.
President George W. Bush has proposed a budget that will eliminate the program, thus eliminating a youth's right to literacy, eliminating their right to an education, and eventually eliminating their chance of ever getting a job.
Clearly, the only thing that should be eliminated is his absurd suggestion.
Unless Congress is willing to put back $26 million dollars in funding for this extremely important program, RIF will not be able to distribute 16 million books to children who need them the most. Reading Is Fundamental, Reading is their future, reading IS financial!
%u201CReading Is Fundamental (RIF)%u201D, is a program that had been established by the late Claudia %u201CLady Bird%u201D Johnson in 1966. %u201CLady Bird%u201D was the wife of the 34th President of the United States, the late Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ). Her program allowed the government to give away books to children. Some of these children come from low-income families, they are homeless, disabled, or are Foster Children. She believed that they should not be illiterate.
Since 1966, her program has been widely successful. Through %u201CRIF%u201D, tons of books are distributed to children and teenagers all over the United States, and in United States Military bases across the globe.
Currently in the U.S., there has been an increase of children who come from bi-lingual families. %u201CReading Is Fundamental%u201D has made it possible for these children to read and speak English.
President George W. Bush has proposed a budget that will eliminate the %u201CRIF%u201D program, thus eliminating a youths right to literacy, eliminating their right to an education, and eventually eliminating their chance of ever getting a job.
Clearly, the only thing that should be eliminated is his absurd suggestion.
Unless Congress is willing to put back $26 million dollars in funding for this program, %u201CRIF%u201D will not be able to distribute 16 million books to children who need them the most.
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