Page 1 Event Gets Public Leafing to Literacy

Author: Chelsea Coffin

Last week, Middlebury's Page 1 Literacy Project celebrated National Literacy Awareness Week with its own Middlebury Literacy Awareness Week.
Page 1 promotes literacy in Addison County through its volunteer commitments to reading, writing and tutoring programs in local schools, as well as annual events geared toward children. Although the illiterate 10 percent of Addison County are mainly adults, the organization hopes the enthusiasm they foster in children will transfer back to their parents.
Not only do the children benefit, but the volunteers also reminisce about their initial passion for reading. At Thursday's conversation with Stewart Professor of English and Enviornmental Studies John Elder, one volunteer said she used to love a place where there isn't the pressure of impressing others around her. At Wednesday's Coffee House, Brian Radley '03 explained that reading children's books allows him to re-experience the feeling of losing track of time and place.
To promote literacy in Addison County, Middlebury Literacy Awareness Week featured a book drive, a screening of "Dangerous Minds," a coffeehouse reading of children's books and a talk with Elder entitled "Power of Words."
The Book Drive began outside the dining halls on Monday and continued throughout the week. Middlebury students chose their favorite books to donate to Addison County organizations, including local libraries, community service offices and local schools. Old friends like "Good Night Moon" and "Harold and the Purple Crayon" brought back memories of books that sparked the students' initial interest in reading.
On Tuesday night, Page 1 organized a screening of "Dangerous Minds," a film starring Michelle Pfieffer that depicts a teacher's struggle to educate students in an inner-city school.
On Wednesday night, Page 1 organized readings of children's books in a coffeehouse setting in The Grille. Students, professors and other faculty, including President John McCardell, gathered to read old favorites. Three readers truly got in the spirit as they read Dr. Seuss's "The Lorax" with tall striped hats of "The Cat in the Hat." Rich Novak '05, the emcee, told guests of his passion for reading as a child. "At the breakfast table, I'd read the back of the cereal box. At night, my parents would have to come into my room and take the flashlight away. I loved the feeling of leaving your own home and going to a faraway place," he said.
Elder, addressed the impact of literacy in his talk. This conversation between Elder and a small group of interested students led to an examination of literacy as it applies to Middlebury students and the world.
Although literacy may not seem to be a salient issue among college students, Professor Elder described the complications that accompany reading and writing at the college level. Higher education can make students too self-conscious and reduce their spontaneity in these areas. "If you can plan a paper from the start, you aren't saying anything interesting," explained Elder. In addition, he commented on the distinct languages of each discipline at Middlebury and the remarkable skill of many well-rounded students to switch between writing a lab report for a biology class and a poem exposition for a literature class.
Elder also explained the impact of literacy beyond the Middlebury campus by defining key terms. For example, many Americans are currently questioning what it means to be patriotic, to have peace or to do civic duty. Phrases used in speeches, such as President George W. Bush's "Axis of Evil," have inspired further rounds of rhetoric. In addition, the symbolic meaning of words can be so politicized that cafeterias on Capitol Hill recently renamed French toast and French fries "Freedom toast" and "Freedom fries" due to our nation's current relationship with France.
Middlebury Literacy Awareness Week and the Page 1 Literacy Project offer Middlebury students opportunities to give back to the community. Improving literacy is a relevant goal for Middlebury students.
"Here at Middlebury, we tend to take the ability to read and write for granted," said Meaghan McCormick '03, even though 23 percent of the United States is functionally illiterate and 43 percent cannot read beyond a fourth grade level.
Page 1 Literacy Project's upcoming events include a Reading Carnival in April during which student organizations will put together booths with their favorite books.