President Bush made a poor decision by cutting funds for Reading Is Fundamental, a national reading program.
RIF is designed to provide children across the country with paperback books. Its budget is being slashed by $23 billion this year; instead, Bush is promoting a new five-year plan to ensure the nation’s students can read by third grade.
Despite this, supporters of RIF insist their program is already doing the job. Every year, RIF gives approximately 15 million books to 5 million children from throughout the nation.
Teachers at the elementary level attest their students have been influenced by the program, often wanting to read more books by the same author.
Former first lady Barbara Bush, the president’s mother, serves on RIF’s National Advisory Council. First lady Laura Bush has also served on the council.
Funds cut from RIF total $23 million and will go toward state-level education programs with the intent to support local control.
By cutting funds to RIF, Bush is all but destroying a program that has been proven to work for more than 35 years. His new plan to get third-graders to read is vague and there is no assurance it will work. This shift in programs is risky and could potentially hurt the literacy rate among poor children.
Bush says because funds will be given to states, local officials will have more control over education in their areas. Unfortunately, chances are if these funds came to Michigan, reading would not be a top priority for the money.
RIF has affected many children since it started - 5 million children a year is nothing to scoff at. It may not be as apparent in suburban or middle- to upper-class school districts, but this program has thrived in less-fortunate communities.
Bush cannot expect American education to improve by cutting programs that work, no matter what he thinks he can do in other areas.
RIF’s effectiveness has been tried and true even in the Lansing area. Lansing and Haslett public school districts are involved with the program and are very supportive. Both school systems have programs in place to help underprivileged students.
Bruce Rochowiak, principal of Averill Elementary School, 3201 Averill Drive in Lansing, said the district believes in the importance of children building personal libraries.
“I think RIF is a real motivator for kids to build personal libraries,” he said. “A book is a valuable learning tool.”
This support is reflected by teachers across the country.
The feeling of owning a brand-new book, especially for the first time, is a unique feeling every student in the nation should be able to experience.
Bush’s campaign for reading may or may not work; he needs to leave RIF alone and think about improving programs that aren’t effective.
