[Reading-hall-of-fame] A Message for Independence Day

[tsticht at znet.com]

June 24, 2005

Literacy, Liberty, Freedom and Independence: 
A Message for the Fourth of July

Tom Sticht
International Consultant in Adult Education

On July 4th of each year we celebrate America’s Declaration of Independence 
from the rule of kings in Britain in 1776. But actual freedom, liberty, and 
independence had to be won through the war of the American Revolution.  

In another war to preserve freedom in the world, World War I, tens of 
thousands of soldiers were taught to read and write using the "Soldier’s 
First Book", a reader developed in 1918 by Cora Wilson Stewart of Kentucky. 
In the "Soldier’s First Book", the Army literacy students read about George 
Washington and his leadership of the Continental Army. Soldiers read that, 
"When the Revolutionary War broke out, George Washington was made Commander 
in Chief. He led the army to victory over an army superior in number and 
equipment. He, with his men, suffered great privation, and the winter at 
Valley Forge is known in history as one of the most extreme suffering ever 
endured by an army."

Teaching soldiers to read and write in World War I was not the first time 
that adult literacy education was accomplished during war time. In fact, in 
writing about the fight for independence during the Revolutionary War, 
Harry Wildes described the activities and struggles of General George 
Washington and his troops in a book entitled "Valley Forge". In this book 
Wildes pointed out that as the encampment at Valley Forge moved from winter 
to spring, the health of men improved to the point that a hospital was 
cleaned and "
was used as a camp school to give the rudiments of the "three 
R’s" to soldiers anxious to improve their leisure time. Lessons continued 
daily through the remaining weeks of the Valley Forge encampment."

Some 165 years after Valley Forge, and 35 years after World War I, the 
United States was once again called upon to fight for freedom and 
independence at home and around the world. And once again, just as in the 
Revolutionary War and World War I,  during World War II thousands of men 
were taught to read and write as part of their training as soldiers. 

To teach soldiers to read and write during World War II, a number of 
teaching materials were developed under the direction of Paul A. Witty, a 
reading researcher and founding member of the International Reading 
Association. A main component of the literacy materials developed was 
Technical Manual 21-500, the "Army Reader" of May 14, 1943. In this manual, 
soldiers learned to read by following the activities of  a fictitious 
soldier called Private Pete. 

On page 141 of the "Army Reader", Private Pete and a group of soldiers are 
talking about the importance of supplying the Army at home and overseas. 
The story continues with a corporal saying, "Supplying an Army is not a new 
problem for our people. The first American Army was faced with this problem 
165 years ago.

"George Washington had a little Army of rugged and ragged men. Their 
uniforms were torn and thin. They seldom had enough food. The problem of 
getting supplies was great at that time as it is today.

"One night during the Revolutionary War, a man named Tom Paine wrote these 
words on a drumhead, "These are times that try men’s souls." General 
Washington ordered that these words be read to every man in the Army. He 
knew that these men were facing hard times. He also knew that their courage 
was being tested. But these soldiers did not give up. They put up with hard 
times. They stuck to their guns and at last won the war."

The corporal went on to tell Private Pete and the others, "We are facing 
hard times again today. We, too, must have courage. We must stick to our 
guns and win this war for freedom. What the American soldier did then, we 
can do now."

When the story telling was over, the corporal and others walked out of the 
room where they had been. In the last paragraph of the "Army Reader", 
Private Pete says, "Now I begin to understand. We are still free men. We 
must always be free in the United States of America and in the whole world. 
That is why we are fighting. That is why we must win."

Sixty years after World War II was won, on July 4th, 2005, we once again 
celebrate Independence Day in recognition of the struggles of our forebears 
who fought for the liberty and freedom we enjoy today. History tells us 
that the struggle for independence is never over, and one of the major 
weapons for liberty is – literacy. 

This Independence Day we celebrate the Declaration of Independence, and the 
tens of thousands of literacy teachers who have helped men and women learn 
to read this foundational document on which our nation rests. 

Happy July Fourth to all!

Thomas G. Sticht
International Consultant in Adult Education
2062 Valley View Blvd.
El Cajon, CA 92019-2059
Tel/fax: (619) 444-9133
Email: tsticht at aznet.net