Our
literacy council is working in cooperation with the Okmulgee County
Literacy Task Force to coordinate efforts of all literacy programs in
the county. Further activities and decisions will be placed on the website.
"Reading
Program Pays Off"
By
Chelsea C. Cook
Henryetta Daily Free-Lance Staff
"I
did it so I could read my Bible better," Betty Eslick of Henryetta
said about completing the reading program at the Henryetta Public Library.
Some
people have more determination than others. This is a fact that is proven
almost daily and Eslick is one of the people who prove this fact.
As
a 13 year-old fifth grade student, Eslick's parents removed her from
school. She didn't have proper reading skills to carry her forward with
the rest of her life. She said she stayed at home and learned how to
be a homemaker. "I learned how to take care of kids, cook, sweep,
and sew, and things like that. My mother taught me that," Eslick
said.
Eslick
now has something of which she is extremely proud. She has a large certificate
proving she learned how to read. Henryetta Public Library has an adult
literacy program where people teach people to read. Reading is a necessary
part of our society and this is one of the ways the library has of giving
back to society. Eslick thinks she got one of the best of these.
"Becky
Collett was my tutor. I had another one at first, but Becky helped me
finish. She was fantastic!," Eslick said.
"My
husband said I ought to try it," Eslick said. "I thought about
it and then called them up. They gave me a tutor."
Collett
helped Eslick Thursdays and Tuesdays for two years and they got through
four books in the reading series. They could not meet for every scheduled
lesson as other adult commitments sometimes interfered. The two started
their lessons at 10 a.m. each day they could. Collett also had another
job.
Eslick
has a certificate of completion for each book in the series. She finished
the program in December and was awarded a large certificate of completion
in January. "I didn't know I would get a big certificate,"
Eslick said. She plans on displaying all of them on her wall at home.
"I got the little ones each time, but I didn't know I'd get a big
one."
It
was Coleman's idea for Eslick to tell the community that she had completed
the program. "I think this may help someone else do it", she
explained. "Maybe my graduating will make someone say, 'If she
can do it, I can do it'."
"I
did it so I could read my Bible better," she said proudly. "I
don't go to church, I am a Christian though."
The
series is the Lubach Reading series and is made for adults who need
some help with their reading. People can sign up for this program by
calling the Henryetta Public Library at (918) 652-7377, by going by
and asking for Ruby Wesson, or e-mailing
the Library.
There
is one Henryetta lady who would enthusiastically encourage anyone to
make use of this free program.