There is an undeniable connection between literacy skills
and incarceration rates. Children who do not read on
grade level are more likely to dropout, use drugs, or end
up in prison. Research shows that reading abilities in third
grade act as a tell-tale barometer for later school success.
Reading to children every day is critical. The Department
of Justice states, “The link between academic failure and
delinquency, violence, and crime is welded to reading
failure. Over 70% of inmates in America’s prisons cannot
read above a fourth grade level.”
have a responsibility for their own growth and learning.
Adults have to motivate them to make good choices.
As a state, not only is it in the Tennessee Constitution, we
also have a moral and ethical responsibility to provide
a quality education for every single child who comes to
the door of our schools every single day. Every educator
and advocate for public education, especially lawmakers,
must take seriously our obligation to prepare all of our
young people for the opportunities they will have and the
Education is the civil-rights
issue of our generation.
Dr.
Elena
Delavega
oversees
the
2017
Memphis Poverty study at
the University of Memphis
recently pointed out
that “Poverty in the U.S.
continues to drop, but it
is increasing in the entire Memphis area.” Researchers say
the statistics were created based on a number of factors.
The overall poverty rate in Memphis is 26.9 percent, which
is a 2.7 percent increase from the study done by the
Census Bureau in 2015. The child poverty rate in Memphis
is 44.7 percent, a 4 percent increase from 2015. “The poor
in Memphis tend to be minorities.” Delavega blames
the rate on low wages, the healthcare and the education
system.
Journalist Mishala Bryant also pointed out in a 2016 article
about the Memphis poverty rate: “Poverty not only affects
a child’s performance in school, but it also affects their
ability to continue on to a successful adulthood.” Audrey
Shores, with Professional Educators of Tennessee, also
agreed with Bryant and stated, “Those most affected by
low literacy rates are African-American, Hispanic, and
children with disabilities and for whom English is their
second language.” It is important we are honest and
confront the equity challenges not only in Memphis, but
across the state.
challenges they will face when they exit public schools. We
need more champions for children in our state.
Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us that people die, but
dreams do not. I challenge our community and state to
make it our dream that all children will read and get the
education that they need. We must overcome barriers to
reading to make education a civil right for all. It is why I
serve on the Senate Education Committee as Vice-Chair to
give a voice for all children and educators, and to unite all
stakeholders to improve public education here in Memphis
and across Tennessee. If we are to close opportunity
and achievement gaps in education, community and
faith leaders, parents and families, policymakers and
administrators, businesses and nonprofits, and educators
and education advocates have to be involved in this effort
to support the learning and development of all children.
There is a powerful comment in Jim Collins’ bestselling
business book Good to Great: “Get the right people on the
bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in
the right seats.” So, it is important that we start prioritizing
our spending, and over the long run it will save money to
create a strong public school system. And we have to get
the right people into our classrooms, pay them and retain
them. We must attract and retain high-quality educators
by raising educator salaries. Then ensure that educator
raises are not consumed by healthcare costs and inflation,
or other system expenses.
Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell admitted that the
“challenges that we have in education are not to be solved
by just the school system.” The Mayor is correct, but we
must recognize that the problems are much larger than
a school and are likely to be different in each community.
Our teachers exercise a higher duty of care than most
professionals. Teachers also face exposure to liability much
greater than the average citizen. Nearly every day, teachers
must deal with diverse laws related to issues such as child
abuse, student discipline, negligence, defamation, student
records and copyright infringement. And still they must
teach. It is not an easy job. Educators make a difference in
students’ lives, every single day. It is also true that students
State Senator Reginald Tate represents District 33 (Shelby
County), where he serves as the vice chair of the Tennessee
Senate Education Committee. Senator Tate is the President
and CEO of Accent by Des ign and has a degree in Architectural
Engineering from the University Of Memphis.