Mission Readiness - Alarm Bells on Reading

Alarm bells on reading
Times Record: June 3, 2010 by Robert J Winglass
retired Marine, lieutenant general, Bath

Your May 19 editorial, “Reading remains key to success,” is right on target. Although Maine’s fourth-graders rank third nationally, our students still do not meet the “proficient reading” standard. No state does. This should send off alarm bells for parents, grandparents like me, teachers and all concerned citizens.

Improving literacy of our nation’s students is key to all their future successes. As a retired Marine lieutenant general, I would add that our national defense also depends on improving literacy of today’s children.

A recent national report from “Mission Readiness: Military Leaders for Kids” reveals that 75 percent of Americans, ages 17 to 24, are ineligible to serve in our military for three primary reasons: 1.) They did not graduate from high school. 2.) They are physically unfit. 3.) They have a criminal record. For young Americans who do graduate and attempt to enlist, 30 percent still fail the military’s entrance exam. This is a national security issue and should be a concern of all regardless of views on military service.

To solve this problem, we must help more young people succeed academically. The best tool to do so is high-quality early learning. Research shows that high-quality early childhood education can improve graduation rates by as much as 44 percent. Graduating from high school ensures that young people are prepared for the ‘career’ pursuit they choose.

Congress has an opportunity to help make certain that more kids read at grade level and graduate from high school by providing incentives to states to increase access to high-quality early education programs like pre-kindergarten in the reauthorization of the public education bill. Our schools need to move toward a pre-K through grade 12 focus. Our country’s future success, as well as our national security, depends on young people who are both prepared and qualified.