WASHINGTON -- President Reagan Wednesday unveiled a largely voluntary national program to wipe out illiteracy among 23 million adult Americans.
Saying illiteracy affects every region and race, Reagan told a gathering of volunteer organization representatives in the East Room:
'Let us today to resolve to roll up our sleeves and get to work.
Across this land let those who can read teach those who cannot.'
The initiative includes a 'national awareness program' to recruit volunteers to teach adults to read and write; an Education Department program providing literacy training and a campaign to enlist governors in establishing similar programs.
The only money mentioned was an additional $300 million in the 1984 fiscal year budget to prompte assignment of college work-study students to adult literacy programs.
Reagan took special note of the presence of Chicago educator Marvin Collins, who established a renowned private program in the inner city to eliminate illiteracy. 'This has just been a great moment for me because I've been a fan of Marva Collins ever since I heard of herand at last I have the opportunity to meet her.
He quipped she 'makes me ashamed that I cheated in English literature on Shakespeare.'
'Together we can rouse the spirit of our people and apply our enormous national will to the task at hand and make America great again,' he said.
Education Secretary Terrel Bell said, 'In this modern society it's important to realize how critical it is that we are all able to handle the mother tongue, to be able to read and write effectively.'
'Functional illiteracy relates highly to crime rates and to the great unemployment problem in this country,' he said.
