The September Meeting of the Women’s Guild featured a slide presentation by Douglas H. Palmer, Chairman of the Board of The Trenton Literacy Movement, Inc. He spoke about the purpose of the program and its success in the city of Trenton.
He used the interesting phrase to descibe the importance of being literate, Learn to Read and Read to Learn. He said that in the first through third grades children learn to read. After the third grade they read to learn. In other words, once they are able to read they are able to apply that skill to learn science, geography, etc. through reading.
A large number of third students in the Trenton School System are unable to read at grade level. It is the goal of the Trenton Literacy Movement to get those students up to grade level. They do this with the help of many volunteers. They are not part of the Trenton School System.