Read Across America Day declared by White House

  • Published
  • By Gina Marie Giardina
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Is Horton just an fictional elephant in a children's book?

Teachers, parents, children and others involved in education are fully aware that the month of March is for readers.  It's celebrated in classrooms across the United States and for years, March has been called Read Across America Month. 

While students in K-12 schools are always encouraged to read and enhance their literacy skills with critical thinking and writing exercises, that encouragement is ramped up during the month with reading challenges, extra history lessons about authors of fiction and non-fiction as well as poets and memoirists.

But March 2, 2016, the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel--also known as Dr. Seuss--was declared Read Across America Day by President Barack Obama in a Presidential Proclamation. 

"From a child's first foray into the depths of a story to an adult's escape into a world of words, reading plays an integral role in our lives," said President Obama in his proclamation. 

Some might think this only relates to children and simply teaching the ability to read, but literacy isn't just about the ability to read words on a page.

"Works of fiction and non-fiction alike pique interest and inspiration and shape our understanding of each other and ourselves, teaching us lessons in kindness and humility, responsibility and respect," the president explained.

And the importance of literacy doesn't end with a high school diploma or college degree.  The study of language is epistemic--it flows into every career field a person enters.  An example is the now highly sought after courses in technical writing, a direct result of the necessity of continued literacy skills for those focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. 

With the focus on STEM fields in the military, the importance of literacy doesn't stop at the gates.

In a peer-reviewed article titled "Read, Writing and the American Soldier: A Study of Literacy in the American Armed Forces," Melissa Hegerfeld stated that many service members are "weeded out" of promotions and many occupations that require above a high school reading level.

"A [service member's] reading and writing level dictate what kind of occupations are available in the military. While there are some occupations available for those with lower literacy levels, tomorrow's military technology will make it impossible for the armed forces to adhere to those levels much longer," stated Hegerfeld.

So maybe to some, Dr. Seuss is just a children's book author.  Maybe his stories, loved by so many, are just fictional. Once children have reached a certain age, Horton and the other imaginary characters are packed away or sold at garage sales. 

But for others, Horton isn't just an imaginary elephant. These people are able to connect this fictional character to society, as the president stated in his proclamation. They see that Horton came from a position of privilege (his size) and felt it was his responsibility to take care of a community of people so small, others were not able to see them. 

These children learn how to be empathetic before they even learn the dictionary definition of the word empathy.  These children learn about the harm discrimination and bullying creates as they read about the Sneetches.  These children learn about hope and goal-setting--and even dreaming--in Oh, the Places You'll Go.

These are just a few Dr. Suess books.  He and so many authors promote self-awareness as well as empathy for others through their many stories.

"The moment we persuade a child to pick up a book for the first time we change their lives forever for the better," said President Obama.

Those little lives grow up to be bigger lives--bigger lives of all genders, sexualities, cultures, etc. who might be serving in the United States military one day. Encouraging critical thinking through literacy promotes diversity in all its forms.

"Books reveal unexplored universes and stimulate curiosity, and in underserved communities, they play a particularly important role in prompting inquisition and encouraging ambition," he said.

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go," the President said, quoting the classic Oh, the Places You'll Go. "Together, we can help all children go plenty of places along their unending journey for knowledge and ensure everyone can find joy and satisfaction in the wonders of the written word."

Literacy is imperative and immersed in every field of study. Learn to discern fact from fiction. Learn to follow directions or diagrams to build a volcano, a robot, or to put together that new IKEA furniture (critical thinking and patience!).  Learn why a sudden craving for a Big Mac pops up after a driver passes a McDonalds billboard. Learn that communication--all of it--is persuasion and while persuasion can be negative, it can be positive too. This and more is all part of literacy development.