PAPER TALK: NEWSPAPERS BEING USED TO BOLSTER LITERACY EFFORT

First in a series of three

CAPE GIRARDEAU This morning almost 2,500 area students will learn about the world and their own communities by reading the newspaper.

Teachers have added the Southeast Missourian to their teaching toolbox through a Newspaper In Education project.

During this week, set aside to recognize Newspaper In Education projects, newspaper officials, teachers and students are highlighting the success newspapers can bring to the classroom.

This is the first year the Southeast Missourian has participated in the nationwide N.I.E. program.

"The greatest challenge for newspapers is readership. The greatest challenge in education is the need for literacy and reading," said Kim McDowell, coordinator of the N.I.E. project at the Missourian.

"We felt it was time for us to get more involved in the literacy movement. We are concerned about reading in general. And we are concerned that students are becoming a video generation and don't know how to gather information."

She said the newspaper is also interested in supporting education.

"Education itself needs support systems also from the business community. Newspapers in Education was one way we could help," McDowell said.

The program began in August. "We sent letters to superintendents about the program asking them if they would like to offer the program to teachers in their districts," McDowell said. "We had a good response. Then we sent letters to all the teachers in those districts, offering the Newspapers In Education program.

"We were overwhelmed by the response," McDowell said.

She said 200 teachers receive a total of 2,450 newspapers daily for their students.

Currently teachers are participating in Cape Girardeau, Kelly at Benton, Meadow Heights, Delta, Advance, Perryville, Oak Ridge and Jackson school districts, as well as teachers at St. Mary's, St. Vincent's, Notre Dame, Trinity Lutheran, St. Paul Lutheran and the Cottonwood Treatment Center.

"We thought that 500 to 700 newspapers daily would be great."

On Oct. 1, morning delivery began at the schools. Papers are delivered five days a week.

Newspapers that are given to students make up 10 percent of the Missourian's daily circulation.

"It's a big investment on our part," McDowell said.

The newspaper is currently funding the entire program, at a cost of about $120,000 but organizers are encouraging other businesses to join the N.I.E. team.

Already, St. Francis Medical Center, Boatmen's Bank, Venture and the Caring Foundation have joined as sponsors.

"We hope to keep it going and even expand next year," McDowell said. "A contribution of $25 will purchase a subscription for one student for one year."

In addition to receiving newspapers, McDowell sends teachers a monthly packet of tips for using the newspaper.

"The newspaper can be used for all grade levels and for all subjects," she said. "It's not just reading. Students can learn geography, math, vocabulary."

Just as the initial response was good, McDowell said continued response to the program has been very positive.

"Teachers and students have written to tell us how much they enjoy reading the newspaper and using it in their classes," she said. "They enjoy the information the newspaper has provided about the earthquake threat and the gulf war. Teachers tell us students who won't read books are picking up the newspaper and reading."

Among letters received by the newspaper is one from Jeanette Davis, a teacher at May Greene: "My third grade class has greeted the project with such enthusiasm that I began to realize we must share with the other third grade in our building. When we have finished our class activities, the children carefully fold their papers to take home."

Diane Mueller, a fifth grade teacher at Washington School, writes: "The children eagerly look forward to reading their paper first think every morning.... Hopefully this is a habit that will continue into adulthood for these future leaders of our community."

Wednesday: Elementary students use the newspaper.

Thursday: Adult learners and high school students use the newspaper.