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Behind the Headlines Why \Dick and Jane Still Can't Read By Philip C. Clarke December 4,1986-Fort Covington Sun-Fort Covington, N.Y.-Page 5 Charlotte Trumble Dies A California man, stalled on a freeway, phoned the police for help. He was asked what street he was on, and the man replied: \One Way.\ Jonathan Kozol, author of the much-debated study, Il- literate America, cites the story as a tragicomic example of the difficulty many adults have in reading, much less understanding what they do read. Statistics bear this out. A recent study by the National Assessment of Educational Progress found that while 95 percent of adults from 21 to 25 years of age can read as well as the average forth- grader, 20 percent cannot perform beyond the eighth- grade level. According to Kozol, this means that one in every five young adults cannot read a newspaper, an income-tax form, a standard rental lease, or the warning label on a can of Drano. This came as no surprise to Dr. Rudolf Flesch, the noted authority on reading and writing and author of the best-selling book, \Why Johnny Can't Read,.\ first published 30 years ago. In an article written for the \American Legion\ magazine shortly before his death, Dr. Flesch said: \Millions of Americans can't read because they've never been taught how. To read a language that's written with letters running from left to right,\ he ex- plained, \you must learn how to sound them out from left to right. It's called phonics.\ Dr. Flesch lamented the fact that most public schools don't teach phonics. \Instead half a century ago, they switched to the whole-word method, popularly called look- and-say. It trains children to memorize the shapes and meanings of whole words, and most Americans today are trained that way.\ As a result, he added, many Amer- icans have lifelong reading trouble, variously misdiag- dyslexia, minimal brain dam- age or so-called \attention deficit disorder.\ Despite its obvious failures, said Dr. Flesch, schools have persisted in teaching look- and-say, adding only a \smid- geon\ of phonics to their curicula, teaching children the sounds of a few letters \as a help in identifying unfamiliar words.\ At the same time, he went on, the schools continue using their so-called \basal readers\ of- fering a small stock of carefully selected words to memorize from kindergarten through eighth-grade. Textbooks in other subjects, he added, are all \dumbed down\ to contain only these words. No wonder so many adults to today are illiterate or only \marginally\ literate when it comes to reading — and understanding. This is borne out by the proliferation of remedial reading courses in colleges and universities and in three out of four major corporations. The problem is with what Rudolf Flesch called our \giant anti- education empire.\ But the good doctor still found cause for optimism. \Sooner or later,\ he predicted, \common sense will return and our children will again be taught to read.\ Distributed by Amer- ica's Future, Inc., New Rochelle, N.Y. Snowmobile Safety Course A snowmobile safety cer- tification course will be offered in the Maione area soon if enough interested youth sign up, according to Ron Howe, Cooperative Extension agent* 4-H Program. Youth between the ages of 10 and 16 are reminded that they must have a snowmobile safety certificate before they can lawfully op- erate a snowmobile off land owned by their parents. Charlotte R. Trumble, 92, ' of Brushton, died Sunday, Nov 30, 1986, in Mansion Nursing Home following an illness of several years. Born in Hogansburg March 7,1894 she was the daughter of the late Mose and Lucinda Guyette Yaddow. She attended school in Hogansburg and in Spring- field, Mass. She was a member of St. Mary's Church, Brush- ton. On Feb. 23, 1915, she was married to Horace E. Trumble in St. Mary's Church, Brush- ton, with the Rev. T.J. Maho- ney officiating. Her husband predeceased her April 22, 1980. Surviving are two sons, Thomas and Leslie, both of Brushton; six daughters. Mrs. Rita Oakes, of Bombay, Mrs Lloyd (Violet) Oakes, of Tampa, Fla., Mrs. Clifford (Marjorie) Weegar, of Mas- sena, Mrs. Emery (Mildred) Campbell, of Williamson N.Y., Mrs. Carl (Annabellej Biiow, of Moira, and Mrs. Wayne (Avis) Ghostlaw, of Fort Covington; 34 grand- children, several great- grandchildren, several great- great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a daughter, Frances Margaret, at age 5. Calling hours in Flint Fun- eral Home, Moira, were from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Funeral ser- vices will be at 11 a.m. Thurs- day in St. Mary's church, Brushton, with the Rev. John Canning officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetary. Youth Training Program The Franklin County Em- ployment and Training Ad- ministration (ETA) is cur- rently accepting applications for the Youth Internship Program (YIP) made possible by a grant from the NYS Department of Education to North Country Community College. Applicants must be Franklin County residents, unem- ployed, out of school, 16 to 21 years of age and econom- ically disadvantaged. Social Services and foster children are considered economically disadvantaged. Since JTPA and YIP define economically disadvantaged differently, it is important that interested youth apply to have their eligibility determined. Applications will be accept- ed Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the ETA Office, 89 West Main St., Maione. Additional in- formation may be obtained by calling Melanie Guerin at 483-2730. S & S Fabrics Rt 37 Hogansburg (Next Door to LBM Lumber) 358-4353 ACE Holiday Depression and Suicide SHLE 25% OOFF Holiday times can be es- pecially depressing for a number of lonely individuals. Depression may affect the young and the old, including individuals who may have been separated from a loved one by result of accident or death. Of all forms of deaths, suicide has long been among the most feared and misunderstood. Because of this and the importance of educating the public, the adult and com- munity education program of Salmon River Central School will be sponsoring a workshop Wednesday, Dec. 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the elementary teachers lounge. This workshop, entitled Depression and Suicide: And What You Can Do About It, will be designed to give in- dividuals a better understand- ing about depressed and/or suicidal individuals. Phyllis Magnus, represent- ative from North Country Frenchie's Chevrolet is giving you an extra Christinas Bonus And General Motors $300°° REBATE On New 1986 or 19S7 Cavilier's Frenchie's Chevrolet GM 255 E. Orvis St. Massena MEMBER W I N.C.C.D.I. Keep that g rea t GM feeling 764-1760 with genuine GM parts. GM QUALITY SERVICE PARTS OfNlfiAi MOTORS CO'POBATiON Youth Assistance Program will focus on why people attempt to kill themselves and how they may be helped. This workshop is open to the public, no fee or regis- tration is necessary. Refresh- ments will be served. Inter- ested individuals may enter through entrance #3. 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