GUEST APPEARANCE: Democracy and literacy |
I am sure that most readers of the Finger Lakes Times have noticed over the years the Geneva Reads signs posted on residents’ front lawns. This is a wonderful organization that has operated in our community since 2007.
Initially funded by the Wyckoff family, Geneva Reads is a collaboration of the Geneva City School District, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, the Geneva Library and Literacy Volunteers and is dedicated to increasing literacy among our youngsters and improving their lives. I confess that I have taken this organization for granted. It is a great group. This is a great mission — literacy improves lives. No better mission to support.
So what is the epiphany? The growing spread of cellphone and screen time happening among our students and young people and the population in general has degraded our national literacy. Cellphone and video technology has enabled all kinds of ridiculous messaging and posting of erroneous information that has no redeeming social value.
When I started hearing about the distractions that were happening in our school districts and classrooms with cellphones being accessed at all times, my anxiety soared, and I finally........