Could you imagine growing up in a household with no books? This may be the reality for some Memphis City School students, which is why Tran Bui, a reporter for ABC 24 and UPN 30, and Delores Bell, a Public Relations Representative with the Memphis City Schools, decided to start the GET SMART.READ literacy campaign.
The program began when Bui approached Bell about finding a way for ABC 24/UPN 30 to do a better job reporting stories that affect the local school system.
“(Bell) shared with me that she would like to see more of a commitment to local education, a long term commitment,” Bui said. “One of the areas that needs attention is reading. I brought her ideas to a group of reading experts and we came up with the GET SMART. READ literacy campaign.”
The campaign has been holding storytelling events once a month at local community centers, churches and libraries. They have brought in volunteers to read with the children and reading experts to talk with the parents about the importance of literacy.
According to Bui, around 64 of the Memphis City Schools have reported below average scores in reading.
“The campaign is important because if you can’t read, you won’t be able to succeed in other classes,” Bui said. “Students are falling behind in school and if they go too far (without literacy skills), they won’t be able to recover.”
Another important aspect of the campaign is the community-wide book drive.
“I think it’s very important to include the community because this is our city,” Bui said. “We need to take responsibility for it. Obviously we can’t fix all the problems, but we can help and we can make it a better place for the future generation.”
The books donated will be given to Memphis City School students involved in the free or reduced lunch program.
“Imagine how it can change a child’s life if one whose only access to books is through school and the library,” Bui said. “Researchers have proven that children can become better readers and learners if they have one on one reading and access to books.”
Reading was of extreme importance to Bui and her family when they came to the United States after the fall of Saigon in 1975.
“We may have been wearing second hand clothes and eating canned food, but we always had books in our home,” Bui said. “Books give you an escape and they give you hope. They provide you with so many opportunities.”
She believes that one of the opportunities literacy offers is the opportunity for education.
“With (education) you can do anything, no matter what you’ve been handed in life,” Bui said. “There’s no excuse for not getting a good education.”
Students and staff at The University of Memphis have also offered support for the campaign. For instance, U of M President Dr. Shirley Raines taped public service announcements discussing the importance of reading and what it has meant to her as an educator. The U of M athletic department has also provided assistance.
“The athletic department started a campaign headed up by Trece Hayslett,” Bui said. “It has had athletes collect books around campus as well as at a few games.”
Another involved group has been the campus reading department.
“Becky Anderson, a researcher and instructor at The U of M, has helped from the start,” Bui said. “She has given expert advice to parents, been interviewed about her research for a story that we conducted and has been answering questions online through our station’s Website. She has also been attending the events with some of her graduate students and volunteering to read to the kids.”
The deadline to donate to the book drive is today and they can be dropped off at The Germantown Performing Arts Center, the Deliberate Literate, the Commercial Appeal, all Storage USA facilities in Memphis and ABC 24/ UPN 30 studios.
For those who want to help out, Bui gave a little advice.
“It’s a simple thing,” Bui said. “Clean out your library, go to a book store or start a book drive at work. There are books out there not being read.”
For those who cannot make the donations by Friday, there’s an event being held Saturday, March 16 at Barnes and Noble on Winchester from noon-2:00 p.m. Celebrity readers will be on hand to accept donations, as well as the RiverKings and Xplorers mascots.
“We as a community need to take responsibility and actively get involved, whether or not we have children in the school system,” Bui said.
