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The Daily OrangeCentral New York community foundation determines how to use government aid to improve literacy rates among children, adults
By Candace Tracy
Posted: 2/10/08, 11:43 PM EST Section: News
Currently, the SU Literacy Corps is one organization that works to fight the city's literacy needs and, although it is a separate entity, it will continually be involved in the county's initiative as it develops.
"SU Literacy Corps has been involved in improving literacy since the 90s; it makes sense that we would be involved in this," said Pamela Heintz, director of the Mary Ann Shaw Center for Public and Community Service (CPCS).
The Corps was formed in 1997 to answer a desperate need for literacy support in the community and to mobilize SU students to tutor and mentor at local elementary and secondary schools and community centers, according to a pamphlet.
"Literacy Corps is different from other volunteer organizations because we are consistently sending tutors. We're always filling the gap," said Meghan Dilks, a senior political science and English major and four-year SU Literacy Corps' veteran.
Tarell Hoskey, a sophomore children and family studies and pre-med major, has been a member of SU Literacy Corps since his first semester freshman year. The Syracuse city school district is "terrible," he said, but he's hopeful the efforts are making a difference.
"The kids get so attached to you," Hoskey said. "They actually get mad at you when you leave for winter break because they don't understand."
Because of a severe lack of funding, the CPCS can only afford to hire and support approximately 250 tutors for the academic year - hardly enough to make a significant dent in greater Syracuse's literacy crisis, Heintz said.
"We've had the largest returning numbers and the largest number of applicants this semester," Heintz said. "But, we can only take as many as we can accommodate, because of certain restraints - like funding and transportation."
Heintz expressed difficulty in finding sustained funding to help programs like her own. She hopes this initiative will help create new collaborations in the community that will yield consistent support for city and county-wide literacy improvement.
cktracy@syr.edu
"SU Literacy Corps has been involved in improving literacy since the 90s; it makes sense that we would be involved in this," said Pamela Heintz, director of the Mary Ann Shaw Center for Public and Community Service (CPCS).
The Corps was formed in 1997 to answer a desperate need for literacy support in the community and to mobilize SU students to tutor and mentor at local elementary and secondary schools and community centers, according to a pamphlet.
"Literacy Corps is different from other volunteer organizations because we are consistently sending tutors. We're always filling the gap," said Meghan Dilks, a senior political science and English major and four-year SU Literacy Corps' veteran.
Tarell Hoskey, a sophomore children and family studies and pre-med major, has been a member of SU Literacy Corps since his first semester freshman year. The Syracuse city school district is "terrible," he said, but he's hopeful the efforts are making a difference.
"The kids get so attached to you," Hoskey said. "They actually get mad at you when you leave for winter break because they don't understand."
Because of a severe lack of funding, the CPCS can only afford to hire and support approximately 250 tutors for the academic year - hardly enough to make a significant dent in greater Syracuse's literacy crisis, Heintz said.
"We've had the largest returning numbers and the largest number of applicants this semester," Heintz said. "But, we can only take as many as we can accommodate, because of certain restraints - like funding and transportation."
Heintz expressed difficulty in finding sustained funding to help programs like her own. She hopes this initiative will help create new collaborations in the community that will yield consistent support for city and county-wide literacy improvement.
cktracy@syr.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Dick Bulova A&S-62
posted 2/11/08 @ 11:05 AM EST
So. How many jobs are there where a young adult can earn a living playing video games? Children also need to know that, as part of life, learning sometimes takes concentration and discipline. (Continued…)
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