The Portrait of a Learner
His mother proudly walks him to school. She sheds tears as she says good-bye and tells him to have a nice day. She believes in the American promise that his life will be better. He will live a happy, dignified and prosperous life unlike her life that is always so hard. He is her future and he is our promise for the next generation. How can he know all those hopes he must carry on his small shoulders as he enters the classroom to delightful sights of cheerful animals, toys, books, musical instruments, and smiling faces. He tentatively lets go of the warm, comforting hand that has so gently guided him to this place. He takes a few steps into a world that he does not know and is not yet comfortable with.
The teacher smiles and tells him how much fun they will have. He believes her. He is anxious to learn. The world is a curious place, and he wants to make sense of it.
Too soon the day ends and he delights in telling his mother all the wonderful experiences he enjoyed. The days wear on and he is happy. He loves this cozy, safe place.
But soon, things begin to change. The teacher tells him some things he does are wrong. They seem right to him. He wonders what’s wrong. He loves school and is really fond of Curious George.
Next year comes and he’s in first grade. But something is different this year. He goes to a different classroom than his friends. He doesn’t even get to see them. He has to learn new names and faces. Again, he wonders, what’s wrong?
Year after year, he continues with the same students. He knows all their names and faces because he sees them everyday, year after year. He knows now his special class is for kids who struggle to read. He feels embarrassed, and school is not much fun now. His mother cries.
High School arrives along with his feelings of insecurity, fear, hopelessness and anger. For the first time since kindergarten he’s being placed in a regular class. He wonders if he’ll be able to keep up. He can’t because no one is helping him make the transition from his special class to a regular class. And, even worse, the teacher requires students to pick partners for class assignments. No one picks him. He is sent back to his special class.
He graduates with a diploma. He can’t read and he can’t fill out a job application. He works for minimum wage. His mother cries.
He has one last hope. He hears about a place where they help people learn to read and where the door is open. He walks through the door and is greeted with a welcoming smile. He meets his tutor who assures him that learning will be fun. He tries to believe.
His tutor reports that he is working very hard and is learning to read. Now he believes; he feels hope. His mother cries with joy.
We are the Literacy Council where the door is open to students who have similar stories. We not only help students learn to read, but we help them believe in themselves again.
If you would like to help a student believe, become an advocate for literacy. Donate your time by becoming a tutor for the Literacy Council of Midland County. Our door is always open.
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