The Thread that runs so True (very long)

[GARYC24 3]

BTW. I graduated from Jesse Stuart HS.
This is kinda old, I thought it would fit in here.

The Thread That Runs So True: A Book For Our Time


Jesse Stuart published "The Thread That Runs So True" fifty-five years ago to promote an improved educational system that would emphasize both literacy and character education. He felt that America’s survival depended on these changes. That was true then, and it is still true.

Stuart’s book is as important today as it was half a century ago, because many of the same educational and societal problems still exist in slightly different forms. Society has invested a great deal of money in the educational system. The buildings are modern and the libraries are filled with books and computers, but we have become a less literate society. Those who want easy answers blame the educational system, but we cannot completely solve the problems of the educational system without improving society, too. That will happen when all of us improve as human beings.

In "Reading at Risk" the National Endowment for the Arts reports a decline in reading, particularly among the young. Literary reading declined five percent between 1982 and 1992 and fourteen percent in the following decade.

Less than sixty percent of all Americans read a book - any kind of book - last year! Less than fifty percent of adults read literature for pleasure.

Television is a major factor in this disturbing decline. By 1995, television consumed forty percent of Americans’ free time. Today electronic entertainments, other than television, fill five and a half hours in the daily life of an average American child. Not so many years ago, reading was a reward for children. Sadly, today many children see it as a punishment.

"The Thread That Runs So True" is also a clarion call for character education, and that’s something we need more today than we did in 1949, because the character of our society is slowly eroding. Indeed, there are a lot of good folks out there who are living decent and responsible lives, but there’s also a small, but steadily increasing, percentage of Americans whose conduct undermines our national character. Look around you if you doubt my assessment.

Character education was a persistent theme in Stuart’s books and in his lectures. According to Donald Davidson, he spoke with "Homeric fire." Over and over, in various ways, he said, "I’d rather have a C student with an A character, than an A student with a C character.’ In 1960, he wrote: In this second half of the twentieth century, we need to teach that which goes beyond personal security, a full stomach and a fine automobile. We have boasted too loud and too long about our high standards of living. Shouldn’t we aim also, and primarily, for high moral standards, for honesty - in a word, for character? We who are older should set a better example for youth to follow."

What should we do? And we must do something, for evil prospers when good citizens do nothing.

We must begin with our own personal example. We’re all teachers, because we all teach by example. I challenge a new generation of Americans to read this important book and promote its use. Let’s not sit idle while our society becomes progressively worse. Reading this book is a small step in the right direction, because "The Thread That Runs So True" - a book that promotes literacy, character education, and public responsibility - is a book for our time.

"The Thread That Runs So True’ and other great books that promote reading and character education are available at the Jesse Stuart Foundation bookstore, 1645 Winchester Avenue in downtown Ashland. For more information, call (606)326-1667.

[kallend 2,151]

Quote

Less than sixty percent of all Americans read a book - any kind of book - last year! Less than fifty percent of adults read literature for pleasure.

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Hey, we're doing our part; I've read 9 novels, one travelogue and one history book so far this year. The GF is running a bit behind, she's only read 6 novels.

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[jakee 1,596]

Interesting.

For what its worth, my parents decided not to have a TV in the house till I was 11 or 12. I'm 21 now so this wasn't long ago at all. Partly as a consequence of that I read at least at a 5th year level before I even started school. In fact one of my earliest memories of school is having a huge row with a teacher in first grade during 'reading time' because they were trying to get me to read a book that only had pictures, no words. I just did not (and still don't) get the point.

Anyway - if/when I ever have kids I will not hesitate to give up TV until they have solid reading skills and an ingrained love of literature.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?