It's great when business and public education partner for literacy

If you ever want a blessing, sit down with a young child, face them on their own level, and have a real conversation with them. Not for the purpose of telling them anything but do what Art Linkletter did many years ago on his "House Party" show.

I had the privilege of visiting with some youngsters recently and I learned something while I was at Forest Park Elementary School.

I had been pitched the story idea: Duke Energy had granted Clay Community Schools $24,000 for a summer reading program.

Assistant Superintendent Tim Rayle put me in touch with Dustin Jorgensen, principal at Forest Park.

Mr. Jorgensen encouraged me to talk to some of the kids after he explained how the schools are using the money.

Clay Community Schools have observed that children leave school in the spring and spend the summer playing.

Jorgensen said, "We want kids to be outside and running" but it is also important they don't lose everything they learned the previous school year.

So, some of the more reading-challenged students were invited to participate in the program in the hopes they would gain some reading comprehension and, let's face it, learn to see how enjoyable reading can be.

Great idea and great program!

Duke Energy is to be commended for spending some of the company's profits in such a worthy manner. Clay Community Schools Corporation is to be commended for turning this windfall into such a worthy endeavor.

Remember, all the children in the program face a certain level of challenge in reading.

What did the kids have to say? You can find the video at www.thebraziltimes.com or on youtube.com.

One little boy started out trying to snow me by saying how much he likes to read. A few minutes later, he admitted no, he really hadn't done any reading over the summer.

Another little boy learned to see the advantage of books because he likes to cook with mom and agreed cookbooks could be very good.

Two little girls have come to love fairy tales and one was quite offended when I threw a curve at her and suggested she read "The Three Stooges" in addition to "The Three Bears" and "Cincerella."

Her reaction reminded me of my own daughter who used to become so offended when I would change words while reading one of her favorite stories to her.

"Send me a man who reads!" was an advertising slogan in Reader's Digest many years ago.

"Send me children who learn to love reading" is just as appropriate for the 21st century.

It doesn't matter if the books are in print, on Kindle or Nook. It doesn't matter if they come from Random House, Kobo or Lulu. What does matter is the literacy of our children.