Celebrating National Reading Month
As digital entertainment dominates the attention of our nation’s youth, it is important to be reminded of the great significance reading has on sharpening the mind and broadening the ability to think critically. March is National Reading Month, and I’m grateful for this time set aside that underscores the importance of such a critical aspect of education.
Ronald Reagan once said, “Reading is a key to past, present, and future – a path into virtually limitless treasures of knowledge and inspiration. Reading encourages wonder about the world, broadens awareness of others, and offers clues about the meaning of life.”
Our late President is exactly right. Reading offers a way to expand the mind in a way that our digital devices are unable to. Holding a book in your hands, turning its pages, and reading its words of wisdom offers a moment in time for your mind to take a break, learn something new, and move forward with a broadened awareness.
As the co-chair of the Congressional Dyslexia Caucus, it is very important that we also shine a light on the most common learning disability that is directly tied to reading: dyslexia. Within this caucus, I have the unique ability to work in Congress on behalf of educators, parents, and students with dyslexia to advocate for a more science-based approach to creating a modern understanding around the definition of dyslexia.
While this learning disability unfortunately remains woefully misunderstood, it should never be a roadblock for students’ success in the classroom. Thankfully, great efforts are being made on the state level in Arkansas to ensure students with reading disabilities can receive the help they need early on to achieve higher academic outcomes and keep them on a level playing field with their peers.
Reading connects our present to our past. It’s a tool to expand our minds, increase our awareness of the world around us, and even allow us to visit hidden corners of the globe. The significance of reading can never be understated, which is why I am proud to continue advocating for a better understanding of reading disabilities to ensure no student is left behind in the classroom.