Reading Is FUNdamental

I started writing this story in April of 2022.  I found it in my draft folder, and I’ve decided to give it another go. As you read, you’ll discover it’s a story from my elementary principal days.  They ended on November 4, 1991, when I became a superintendent.  That was thirty-four years ago.  Time flies.

In 1966, while reading to children at a school in Washington, D.C., Margaret McNamara, wife of the United States Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, was surprised to learn that many of the students did not have any books of their own. With the help of Lady Bird Johnson, Margaret McNamara’s 1966 experience led to the formation of Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), a nonprofit children’s literacy organization dedicated to making reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life.

After early organizational meetings with other educators in D.C., McNamara secured a $150,000 grant from the Ford Foundation to support pilot activities in the District of Columbia throughout 1967, including the launch of a bookmobile to increase the reach outside of classrooms.  Following the success RIF had in Washington, the Ford Foundation increased RIF’s grant to $285,000 in August 1968, enabling RIF to launch ten model programs across the country. At the time of McNamara’s death in 1981, RIF had provided “more than 3 million children with 37 million books.”

I became aware of the program during my years as an elementary school principal.  I was invited to attend a meeting in Lansing, Michigan early in my tenure.  It was there that I learned about RIF.

I went to that first meeting with my librarian, Nancy.  I drove a blue Suburban I had purchased from my father-in-law.  The only reason I remember that detail is it wouldn’t go into gear when we started to head for home.  I tried it a couple of times and eventually got it to go.  The next day Ruth drove it to a transmission shop in Jackson to have it checked out.  It needed a new transmission.  It was going to cost $900, and we didn’t have $9 to spare.

Ruth’s dad had retired a couple of years prior and bought the blue beast to pull a fifth wheel to Arizona.  We assumed that the “pulling” led to the demise of the transmission. We only owned the beast a couple of months before we ran into trouble.  Ruth called her dad, told the story, probably cried a bit, and after telling her it was “our problem not his”, Lou agreed to split the cost.  He couldn’t say no to his daughter.

In any case, Nancy and I brought the RIF program to Addison.  We had to sign a contract with the RIF guys.  We agreed to raise money which the national program would match.  Our goal was to raise enough money to provide three to four book distributions a year.  There were several book companies that provided discounted books to the RIF programs throughout the country which helped stretch every dollar we raised.

I don’t remember all the distributions, but I do recall the first.  It had a Star Wars theme. Our versions of Luke Walker, Hans Solo, and Princess Lea helped each child pick out a free book.  We did that at least four times a year.  Moms and dads helped raise the funds, went on book buying trips to warehouses in Ann Arbor and Lansing, organized each book giveaway, helped thousands of Addison students develop their reading skills and learn to love books.  My three kids were among the recipients.

I sometimes used our RIF library to bribe kids.  I recall one second grader who didn’t want to come to school.  She refused to get on the bus, so her mom drove her to school on several occasions.  Sometimes she wouldn’t get out of the car.  One time she locked herself inside and her mom sought my assistance.  It’s not my proudest moment, but it seemed the right thing to do at the time.

Her mom was on one side of the car, and I was on the other.  As soon as mom unlocked the door, the girl relocked it.  I finally distracted her long enough for mom to get in and then she grabbed the steering wheel.  She refused to let go.  Mom tried to pry her fingers off the wheel, but she couldn’t.  I slid in next to her and was successful.  My second grader began to cry. I pulled her to my chest, hugged her, and we struck a deal.  If she’d get out of the car and go to class, I’d take her to the RIF library during lunch to pick out a book.  She agreed.

After we picked out that first book, we struck another deal.  If she’d come to school the next day and just go to class, we’d make another trip to pick another book.  That worked too.

Our final agreement was, “If you come for a whole week, and go directly to class, you can pick out a third book.”  That worked as well.  We never had another problem.  She spent the rest of her days as an Addison student without any trauma.

About twenty years later, Ruth and I went to a wedding for one of Elizabeth’s friends.  During the reception, the second-grade girl and her mom came to me and asked if I remembered them.  I recognized the mom but not the second grader.  She was a woman now and in her late twenties. We shared that story, and she told me her love of reading inspired her to become a teacher.

I wish all stories about the kids I worked with had a happy ending.  I wish too that all children could read.  It opens doors for everyone.  The truth of the matter is a lot of doors remain closed.

When last I looked, RIF was going strong.  As of 2022 it had distributed over 450 million books to over a 100 million children. All those kids, including my second-grade girl who locked herself in her mom’s car, owe Margaret McNamara a big thank you.