Marge Peary

From IAGSDC History
Jump to navigationJump to search
Riverside Brookfield High (Riverside, IL) yearbook portrait, 1968

Marjorie Ellen Peary
11 Sep 1950 - 26 Jun 1998

Clubs & Associations

Chi-Town Squares

In Their Own Words

Reading about it won't cure illiteracy
by Marjorie E. Peary
CHARLESTON — Recently much attention has been focused upon the problem of illiteracy. Illiteracy can be defined as being unable to read at a level necessary to function adequately as an adult citizen as well as to be able to read for personal enjoyment and advancement. Estimates of illiteracy range fro 10 million to 1 of every 3 Americans.

Critics of our national illiteracy rate, the highest of any so-called "developed" nation, often cite the schools and parents as the reasons for this alarming state of affairs. Blame has focused especially on the schools. There seems to be a relationship between illiteracy and the appalling statistics surrounding those who drop out or are pushed out of school. National and state statistics reveal that between a quarter and a third of all students who begin high school fail to graduate.

Determining the causes of illiteracy might be useful in terms of formulating national policies and priorities. However, labeling the problem and looking for causation does not help those who currently cannot read.

What are we who can read doing to help those who have been labeled "illiterate?" Are we actively involved in solving the problem or are we merely criticizing those who do not possess the reading skills that we enjoy?

In Illinois, through grants from the office of the secretary (who is also state librarian), literacy programs have been developed and implemented on a state-wide basis. Although these programs may differ in terms of the delivery model used, the common focus is recruiting, retaining, and teaching adults to learn to read.

This is the key to solving our illiteracy problem. We must actively seek ways to engage those who cannot read in reading activities and programs.

Project PAL — Partners in Adult Literacy — is an example of one of these programs. Covering a 10-county ares (4,000 square miles) and a population of 180,000, Project PAL has grown from serving 47 students in 1985 to 174 students as of March 1987. almost 4,000 volunteer hours have been devoted to this program so far. The focus is one-to-one tutoring. Volunteers are recruited and trained to teach reading to adults.

The program coordinator and area representatives provide support and guidance. Students are paired with volunteers who not only teach them, but, most importantly, share their love for reading and the printed word. This is the key to success — sharing a personal belief of the importance of reading.

In addition to literacy programs such as Project PAL, business and industry are becoming involved.The Herald & Review publishes a supplement, Read: The News, designed for adults who are learning to read. Publishers and bookstores have donated a portion of their profits towards literacy programs. K-mart sponsored the Learn to Read television series. Wal-Mart has sponsored Project Second Chance, a program to encourage their employees to take GED classes. There are others involved in supporting literacy efforts nationwide.

These programs are a sampling of positive efforts to help those who cannot read. The catch-phrase of the 1970s was "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. I challenge everyone reading this article to become part of the solution.[1]

Obituary

Marjorie Peary
Marjorie Peary, 47, a Chicago school teacher who specialized in special education, died June 26. Ms. Peary received her doctorate in educational administration from Illinois State University in Normal and taught in the state university system and at Downstate schools before teaching at Brown Elementary School. She followed in the footsteps of her father, also a Chicago teacher who tried to improve special-education instruction. Survivors include her mother, Betty Peary; a sister, Carol Runyan; and two nieces. Services will be in September so Brown staff members can attend.[2]

Remembrances

My deceased partner Larry Burke & Marj met in Grad school she was a school administrator. She moved to Chicago in the late 90’s and died June 26, 1998.
Rob Sierzega

Memorial Panel

Photos


Sources

  1. The Herald & Review (Decatur, IL) Wednesday, 03 Jun 1987, p.A8
  2. Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL) Friday, 03 Jul 1998, section 2, p.10 col.4