Measuring the 'Three R's'

To function in today's world -- whether just to get along or do great things -- the three r's of education remain of paramount importance.

Readin', 'ritin, and 'rithmetic is how our great-grandparents identified the educational basics. And today, more than a 100 years later, we're still debating the merits of how to help our children learn the building blocks for thought and action.

In McCook, the discussion has centered on reading, and that's a good thing. Of all the skills learned in school, nothing is of greater importance than the ability to read and comprehend. That cornerstone of educational philosophy has been officially recognized by the McCook Board of Education, who voted early in the 21st Century to make reading the Number One Priority of the McCook Public Schools.

Since then, several different approaches have been tried, with emphasis placed on the Houghton-Mifflin Series and the Reading First Program. This year, the evolution of the reading program is continuing, with McCook's elementary school teachers coming up with a plan for teaching reading to kindergarten, first, second and third grade children.

"The teachers presented the plan at the first school board meeting I attended," said interim Superintendent of Schools David Schley. "I was very impressed. The teachers' plan was well thought out and their presentation was very professional."

The teachers' plan appears to have merit and should be given the opportunity to prove itself.

The added expense is minimal, including $1,365 for textbooks and workbooks for second and third graders to learn language skills, plus $2,698 for a "Soar for Success" program for first graders who are having trouble mastering the basics of reading.

The elementary reading program uses principles which worked very well for the parents and grandparents of today's students. These include phonics, which is the teaching method in which speech sounds are used to learn spelling and word formation, and phonemic awareness, which is a way to help students learn the basic units of speech elements. The teachers plan also emphasizes the teaching of vocabulary, comprehension and fluency, which simply means the skill to speak easily and clearly.

At Monday night's meeting, new elementary principal Lynda Baumbach said, "Our goal -- our passion -- is to have every child reading at the very best of their ability."

It's a noble goal and one which should be pursued with intense commitment by parents, teachers and pupils. The ability to read well is the building block for success in life. The Board of Education did the right thing by making reading the Number One priority for McCook Public Schools.