PRESS RELEASE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	November 18 , 2003

THE BTF DONATES MORE THAN 12,000 READING/LITERACY GUIDES TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF YOUNG PUBLIC SCHOOLCHILDREN AS PART OF ITS FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THE LIVING ROOM INITIATIVE

         BUFFALO, NEW YORK (Tuesday, November 18, 2003) – As part of its From the Classroom to the Living Room program, the Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) is distributing reading and literacy guides to more than 12,000 parents and guardians who have children in pre-kindergarten through Grade 3 classes within 44 public schools across the city.

"This effort is part of our 'From the Classroom to Living Room' project that reaches out to connect teachers with students and their parents and guardians so we can all work together for the betterment of our children," BTF President Philip Rumore said during a morning news conference. Rumore was joined by National Education Association-New York (NEA-NY) Robin Rapaport, and representatives of the Buffalo office of the National Urban League, the Buffalo School District and global children's publishing and media company, Scholastic, Inc.

"It's just another one of the things that we, as teachers, know is the most important part of a child's education, and that's making and taking the time to read. In addition, an important ingredient in making this happen is the support, encouragement and interest that is shown within the student's home. Hopefully this will work to connect the two," Rumore said.

The reading and literacy handbook for parents and guardians is called Read and Rise: Preparing Our Children for a Lifetime of Success. From toddlers right up the age of nine, the handbook helps guide parents and guardians along the way in order to help make their children lifelong readers with strong literacy skills, which will allow them to better communicate and form thoughts using reason and analysis. BTF President Rumore explained the mission of the From the Classroom to the Living Room program is simple. "It's to educate and carry a positive message from teachers of why and how parents can and must get more involved in their children's lives, both in and out of school, and how we can work together towards a common end. This program has an opportunity to make quite an impact, especially with the more than 4,000 members the BTF represents, many of whom are teachers within Buffalo's Public School System, and the nearly 50,000 children and young people that they combine to teach and mentor," he said.

Joining Rumore at the news conference was NEA-NY President Rapaport - who flew in from New York to take part in the event - Brenda McDuffie, president of the Buffalo office of the National Urban League, and Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent Marion Canedo. Representatives of Scholastic, Inc. (Local contact is Bonnie Fredenberg, who can be reached at 716-633-4129) - also a partner in the program - also took part in the news event.

"New York State has for too long ignored the suffering of teachers and students in the Buffalo Public Schools. A state government who does not set Buffalo's children as a priority has perpetuated a gap between the haves and the have-nots. The struggles here in Buffalo are a perfect example of why the 2.7 million member National Education Association (NEA) has created a Priority Schools Program. This program places an emphasis on providing resources to its affiliates that serve our most disadvantaged communities. The NEA has responded to NEA/NY's call for making Buffalo public schools a priority," said Robin Rapaport, president of the National Education Association of New York.

"Today, I am proud to stand alongside Phil Rumore, members of the Buffalo Teachers Federation, the National Urban League and Scholastic, all of whom feel a profound and moral responsibility to help narrow the gap for Buffalo's poorest students. I would also like to extend a heartfelt 'thank you' to Scholastic for this extremely generous gift. I believe it is just the beginning of a cooperative effort to reach out to Buffalo school children and encourage them to 'Read and Rise'," Rapaport said.

The BTF's From the Classroom to the Living Room/book initiative continues the tradition of BTF programs aimed at the city's public schoolchildren and the local community.

Just prior to Halloween, the BTF printed and handed out handed out more than 47,000 orange bookmarks in classrooms in an effort to make sure schoolchildren have a happy and safe Halloween as they traveled through city neighborhoods trick or treating.

And next week, just before Thanksgiving, the BTF and its members will donate thousands of dollars in food and gift certificates to be distributed to more than 120 needy families throughout the Buffalo area by several charitable and non-profit groups in an effort to "make sure those families enjoy a meal of thanks on Thanksgiving Day.

"This is the way the BTF and its membership have chosen to continue to show Buffalo and Western New York that we are committed to our teaching profession, the city's schoolchildren and the local community. We are both happy and pleased to play this role as we continue to serve our kids and the community," BTF President Rumore said.