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Letter to Editor
ShareStop, drop and read
By Sheila Reynolds - Surrey North Delta Leader
Published: September 03, 2008 12:00 PM
Updated: September 03, 2008 12:56 PM
Next Monday, the community is being asked to drop everything and focus on reading – even if it's just for a few minutes.
Sept. 8 is International Literacy Day, proclaimed by cities worldwide to call attention to the need to foster literacy, learning and education.
The public is encouraged to participate in either of two events to mark the day:
n Stop, Drop and Read - wherever you are, stop what you're doing, drop your tools and read something for five minutes, whether it be a magazine article, your e-mail or a book to a child; or
n Guerrilla Readings - unexpected reading out load in unexpected places, such as a SkyTrain station, recreation centre or in the middle of a sidewalk.
It's all about focusing on enabling individuals to become literate and better able to achieve goals, develop knowledge and participate fully in society. Results from an International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey done in 2003 showed 42 per cent of the population have low literacy skills.
The day has been declared both by Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts and White Rock Mayor Judy Forster.
A Community Literacy Plan is being developed for Surrey and White Rock, with funding from Literacy Now and a steering committee representing a broad base of community groups involved in literacy initiatives. The draft plan is expected in the fall.
sreynolds@surreyleader.com
