What an ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL telling! Thank you for sharing this inspiring story. God has given you inspiration in helping others. And what JOY to give others wings! Truly, there is no frigate like a book! BRAVO!
Bravo! That's a huge success story, Switter. And you had such willing and dedicated learners. Our literacy program turned into an ESL program which the State didn't support. We did have some willing tutors, though, and many learners. I can't gauge the success, though, as each learner had different needs, educational level from Mexico, and levels of discipline.
But Sue, you made a decision to do something, and something is way better than ignoring it or hoping someone else will do it or saying it’s the government’s responsibility.
Nothing I know about works better than one on one.
It worked for about five years before the library decided to have Americor manage it after my boss quit. Long story. Anyway, the Americor guy was from Arizona, so I was surprised when he looked me in the eye and asked, "how many weeks does it take for these people to learn English?" I was thrilled to walk away from the whole deal.
I was so gobsmacked, I couldn't speak. I get that way easily when somebody says something shocking like that. At least I've mastered keeping my mouth from falling open.
Love your real-life, making a difference story! I can almost picture it and see the men who learned to read through your thoughtful ingenuity. Thank you for caring about them and doing something practical to change their lives permanently!
I was one of the fortunate kids in earth’s history who learned to read and write when I was a child. I can still remember how excited I was when I figured out how letters make words on paper like the ones we spoke. What a thing to learn.
Instead of teaching all the world to sing in perfect harmony while drinking a bottle of Coke, I’d rather teach the world to read, because we live in a world of written words, so it makes life very difficult when trying to cope with government and business without literacy skills. How does a mother read the label of a medicine for her child? How does a farmer read use instructions on farm chemicals? How can you know if the government is helping or hindering you if you can’t read about what they are doing to you.*
But even better than merely coping is that literacy opens up worlds to us that we might otherwise never know about and that is the best reason.
*And if you are a dad who bought your kids an ant farm and sent in the coupon for a bottle of ants, how are you supposed to know they need to be refrigerated for awhile so you can pour them into the ant farm, instead of trying to catch wild and angry ants that, if you don’t squish them first, you must try to insert into the little ant farm opening.
The impact! Yay, both of you. All my relations were teachers, it is a gift.
I have, in my IDEAS for SUBSTACK folder, thoughts on how very many every-day expressions are based on sailing and the seas. With me at the helm, it will be written!
I also enjoy learning about all the nautical terms in our English language. At the end of my rope. By and large (a lot of sail and a following wind). The bitter end, as in the end attached to the deck fitting.
Wow. What a difference there would be, if there were more people like you in our world. You are amazing. Always looking to find solutions, helping and lifting people up. So happy to have found your Substack.
Oh heavens no! I was the kid, then guy, who never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up, and still don’t quite know yet. I just did the stuff that fell through the cracks.
What an ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL telling! Thank you for sharing this inspiring story. God has given you inspiration in helping others. And what JOY to give others wings! Truly, there is no frigate like a book! BRAVO!
🤓
Bravo! That's a huge success story, Switter. And you had such willing and dedicated learners. Our literacy program turned into an ESL program which the State didn't support. We did have some willing tutors, though, and many learners. I can't gauge the success, though, as each learner had different needs, educational level from Mexico, and levels of discipline.
But Sue, you made a decision to do something, and something is way better than ignoring it or hoping someone else will do it or saying it’s the government’s responsibility.
Nothing I know about works better than one on one.
It worked for about five years before the library decided to have Americor manage it after my boss quit. Long story. Anyway, the Americor guy was from Arizona, so I was surprised when he looked me in the eye and asked, "how many weeks does it take for these people to learn English?" I was thrilled to walk away from the whole deal.
Should’ve asked him how long it took him to learn Spanish.
I was so gobsmacked, I couldn't speak. I get that way easily when somebody says something shocking like that. At least I've mastered keeping my mouth from falling open.
That’s why it’s best to avoid listening to politicians speak.
Love your real-life, making a difference story! I can almost picture it and see the men who learned to read through your thoughtful ingenuity. Thank you for caring about them and doing something practical to change their lives permanently!
I was one of the fortunate kids in earth’s history who learned to read and write when I was a child. I can still remember how excited I was when I figured out how letters make words on paper like the ones we spoke. What a thing to learn.
Instead of teaching all the world to sing in perfect harmony while drinking a bottle of Coke, I’d rather teach the world to read, because we live in a world of written words, so it makes life very difficult when trying to cope with government and business without literacy skills. How does a mother read the label of a medicine for her child? How does a farmer read use instructions on farm chemicals? How can you know if the government is helping or hindering you if you can’t read about what they are doing to you.*
But even better than merely coping is that literacy opens up worlds to us that we might otherwise never know about and that is the best reason.
*And if you are a dad who bought your kids an ant farm and sent in the coupon for a bottle of ants, how are you supposed to know they need to be refrigerated for awhile so you can pour them into the ant farm, instead of trying to catch wild and angry ants that, if you don’t squish them first, you must try to insert into the little ant farm opening.
Love this story, love to sail
Love to hear from a friend!
The impact! Yay, both of you. All my relations were teachers, it is a gift.
I have, in my IDEAS for SUBSTACK folder, thoughts on how very many every-day expressions are based on sailing and the seas. With me at the helm, it will be written!
Love seeing you in my in-box!
I also enjoy learning about all the nautical terms in our English language. At the end of my rope. By and large (a lot of sail and a following wind). The bitter end, as in the end attached to the deck fitting.
More here! https://www.dailywritingtips.com/50-nautical-terms-in-general-use/
and here! https://www.dailywritingtips.com/30-nautical-expressions/
and here! https://www.arkadaslik-yachting.com/blog/common-nautical-terms.html
and here! https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/navigation/nautical-terms.html
and here! https://spiritofbuffalo.com/nautical-resources/nautical-phrases-and-terms/
I shouldn’t have let myself get started.
And many of the terms carried over into aviation! It’s like the other forms of transportation aren’t even trying.
Wow. What a difference there would be, if there were more people like you in our world. You are amazing. Always looking to find solutions, helping and lifting people up. So happy to have found your Substack.
Oh heavens no! I was the kid, then guy, who never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up, and still don’t quite know yet. I just did the stuff that fell through the cracks.
You do it very well.
Making a difference in concrete ways♥️
And there are a lot of concrete little ways.