JUNE 15 - 21.1986 THE CITIZEN
11
Reading
Together
Senior Citizen Center schedules activities
attempt will be made to have
this work done when the home
occupant is p esent, especiall
when items are to be furnished
the workers by the occupan
being rved. The work wili
be done by per on engaged
in the summer youth employ­
ment program.' All such work
will be done under adul super-
ing leaf raking grass cutting,
rain gutter cleaning, weed cut­
ting and painting will b done.
o work involving home repairs,
roofing, replacement of broken
windows insulation installation
and electrical or plumbing re-
pairs will be done. .
When the occupant can fur­
nish such· items as needed
ladders, lawn mower and fuel,
weed cutters, rakes, paint and
bru es, pails and window clean­
ing supplies, the work can be
done sooner and is more certain
to be done, as the senior center
does not have such equipment
at the present time. Every
vision.
Only residents of Benton Har­
bor and Benton Township are
eligible. Requests for such
rvice should be made bet een
9:00 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. The
office phone number is 927-
2497.
BENTO HARBOR - The
nior citizens center of Benton
Harbor and Benton Township
located at 144 Pipestone and
53 Wall Streets, Benton Har­
bor, is inviting residents of its
rvice area aged 60 or over,
living in private home (no
apartment of public housing
occupant) to submit requests
to have certain home chore
services done at their place of
residence. Such services will
be performed free of charge,
starting this month and expected
to end no later than September
30.
Work such as window wash-
on
The Lu ky Children
. Sometime it em that dy Luck is rather prejudiced.
a way of smiling' at the Haves, hile turning up her
no t the H ve-not .
Even when it comes to children learning to read, Luck
em to be one the side of the Have .
For in ance, me children are lucky enough to be born
into familie hich can provide books in the home. This
means that they don't have to rely solely upon textbooks in
earning how to read. They can practice re ding at home as
much they like with book which they find interesting.
I it any wonder that these children are the top scores on
reading te t ?
But children born to poor folk usually don't have books
at home. They have nothing to practice on but a Reader
which, in many cases, they can use only at school during
their reading time. I . . .
Tryin to ore high on reading te s WIth nothing to,
pr ctice on but a Reader is like trying to win a Imming
rae with nothing to practice in but the bathtub!
That' why poor children come in last on reading tests.
hey ju don't have equal acce to books. Unless, of
cour they u public libraries.
Public libraries were started 0 that the Haves wouldn't
have all the luck when it come to literacy. Libraries are
the equalizer. They provide free boo s for the public through
the operation of a lending ystem. All that i needed to be
able to borrow boo from the public library i a library card
- which is also free.
But public libraries have a difficult time trying to make
thing equal for children. As Luc would have it, the scales
are once again tipped in favor of the Haves.
S me children are luc y enough to have parents who
have the time to take them to the public library.
The other children must try to get to the library on their
own, crossin busy streets or walking thr ugh hostile terri­
tory. 0 they just don't go at all. It i too danger us.
Some children are lucky enough 10 have parents who can
help them pay their overdue fines. Even though there i no
charge � r b rro in the b oks there i a charge if the books
are not brought back on time.
To a child ho i in a family where money is carce the
small amount of money charged for overdue books can seem
like a tremendous amount! The library's files are filled with
the names of children who have stopped coming to the library
becau they owe a small overdue flne.
So Luck win again! Even with using the library, the
Haves get all the breaks while the Have-nets get left out in
the cold!
Of course, there are many people who don't believe in
letting Luck have it sway.
There are teachers who take their classes on weekly trips
to the public library just for the purpose of borrowing and
returning books .. These teachers train the children to use the
lending sy tern by reminding them to return their books on
time, and by rewarding and encouraging them when they do.
There are also churche and community organizations
which have joined in the effort to equalize the chances of
learning to read well. They have started library club which
spon or wee ly trips to the public library. The clubs not
only provide transportation for the children they also help
the children clear up their fines so that they can start borrow­
ing boo s again. Mo t importantly, they help the children
learn good borrowing habits 0 that they won't have to pay
overdue fines.
The teacher church workers, and neighborhood volun-
, ,
teer are or ing hard to m e ure that Luck doesn t con-
tinue to play havoc with the children's read�g. L:et' keep
our finger eros d. I have a feeling that, WIth a little luck,
they're going to succeed!
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