by Richard Prior
Staff Writer
Speakers going out on behalf of the Jacksonville Bar Association are spreading the word that the consequences of illiteracy go far beyond being sentenced to a lifetime of low-paying jobs.
“Children who can’t read well are likely to drop out of school,” said Circuit Court Judge Karen Cole. “Once out of school, they are likely to commit law violations.
“Juvenile delinquents who are released from jail or prison without knowing how to read are unlikely to get a meaningful job and are likely to re-offend. Therefore, literacy is an issue of public health and public safety.”
Cole was one of the featured speakers Monday for the inaugural JBA Literacy Speaker’s Bureau program, presented to the Downtown Kiwanis Club’s luncheon meeting at the Hilton.
She was joined by Jim Moseley Jr., president of the JBA, and Dr. Edward C. “Peter” Taylor, a clinical child psychologist who specializes in children’s education and reading disabilities.
“It was very exciting to give the first presentation of many to follow,” said Moseley. “It is very important for this project to be going full speed in that it deals with a very important subject, and that is literacy.
“I think it is important for our bar association to speak to members of the community, not just about the problems of illiteracy but of possible solutions as well. I am proud that our bar association is speaking on these issues.”
The JBA, which has been developing the program since January, will have a presentations before area Rotary Clubs and at the June 9 meeting of Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. Additional speakers will be Dr. Laura Bailet, with the Nemours Children’s Clinic, and Dr. Michael Sisbarro, a clinical psychologist with Sheldon Kaplan and Associates.
“We certainly appreciate those clinical professionals who have donated their time to speak to the community,” said Moseley. “I am also very honored that Judge Cole would not only be involved in our project, but also strongly encourage our project.”
Moseley told the Kiwanis Club that the JBA got involved “because many of our members, both judicial and lawyer members, have seen what happens with problems in literacy. Also, as people in our community, we would like to see improvements in this area, which will be felt in all aspects of our community.”
Taylor described the reading difficulties that children can encounter and explained the mechanism and effects of dyslexia. He also discussed the programs and teaching methods that can help with those problems.
Cole, who now sits in the adult felony division, talked about how illiteracy plays such a significant role in the lives of those who appear before her.
“I am so impressed with the volunteer efforts of the Jacksonville Bar Association in establishing the Literacy Speakers Bureau,” Cole said. “Lawyers have donated their time to be trained by Ph.D.-level school psychologists and clinical psychologists in the basics of reading research.
“They are volunteering additional hours to speak to community groups about the subject. Lawyers value literacy not only because they treasure words but also because they see the impact of illiteracy on our society.”
Groups that would like to schedule a stop by the Literacy Speakers Bureau should call Moseley at 356-1306.