Times Must Keep Literacy a Priority
* On March 14 the National Conference of Community and Justice held a forum on literacy in our schools. The speaker was Mark Willes, chairman of Times Mirror Co.
He spoke about the programs the newspaper makes available to the schools, including the “Reading by 9” program.
The children’s page was also mentioned.
As the transition begins to new ownership, it is important to remind my newspaper of what is good and what should be retained.
Why should a newspaper promote literacy? Willes mentioned that 60% of the children in school in Los Angeles County were below the 50th percentile for reading on Stanford tests.
He said Arizona looks to the reading levels in grades one to three to help predict how many prison beds will be needed in the future.
Not only does literacy build the future of our community, but it also ensures that there will be a future need for newspapers to report the news.
Since I read The Times, and especially enjoy the Thursday paper with its special section on my community, it is important for you to know what I want you to put in the paper I read.
We the readers need to let you know what we want to see.
KAREN JACKLE
Huntington Beach
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
