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Wednesday, Feb. 04, 2009

Senior citizens book fair is part of ongoing efforts to promote literacy

Odessa Whiters doesn’t believe in the words “I can’t.”

Instead, she wants you to say, “I’ll try.”

That’s because at age 72, Whiters received her GED diploma from Middle Georgia Technical College after being away from the classroom for 57 years.

It took her a year and a half of studying, but it was all worth it. No matter what your age is, it doesn’t matter. The opportunities are out there for everyone if you want to learn, she said.

“I really believed I could do it,” Whiters shared with a group of senior citizens gathered last week at the Wellston Center in Warner Robins.

She had little time for school while growing up, due to her responsibilities of growing up on a farm, she said. Then she got married and began raising the first of her 12 children. It wasn’t until a few years ago that her daughter encouraged her to get her GED.

Due to her dedication, Whiters was MGTC’s EAGLE award winner in 2001. EAGLE stands for Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education. Whiters went on to represent the state as a literacy ambassador, and was the recipient of a key to the city of Warner Robins.

The Kathleen native was a guest speaker last week during the first Senior Citizens Book Fair, sponsored by the Houston County Certified Literate Community Program.

Through support from the Houston County Friends of the Library, 679 books were on display, all free to members of the Senior Activity Center’s Senior Citizens Social Club, who had gathered for a monthly meeting.

Senior citizens are an important group to target for literacy, explained Joe Bishop. CLCP coordinator. They are a group that is often forgotten about, he said.

“Literacy is a lifetime avocation,” Bishop added. “We have a saying in Houston County: It’s cradle to grave education. If we’re going to live up to our potential, then we need to be inclusive to everybody.”

According to the last census survey he read, Bishop said, 10 percent of Houston County residents do not read on an eighth grade level. “They are functionally illiterate,” he said.

People shouldn’t be ashamed to talk about illiteracy, he added, but should come forward and receive a free education.

“Everybody should have an opportunity to have the gift of reading,” Bishop said.

The opportunity to return to school is a free one. Anyone wishing to obtain an education may do so at MGTC’s adult education centers. The college offers free basic and secondary level instruction for adults not only at its main campuses in Warner Robins, but also at 11 centers throughout Houston, Peach, Dooly and Pulaski counties.

GED prep classes are from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, with night classes offered in each county. If you’d like to learn more, you may call MGTC at (478) 988-6851 or visit www.middlegatech.edu.

Volunteer tutors are also welcome, to help literacy and adult education students. For information, call 929-6789.

Additional literacy classes include training not only for GED, but also citizenship, English as a Second Language and life skills.

According to the Technical College System of Georgia, in 2007 there were more than 84,000 men and women enrolled in Georgia’s adult education programs.

To contact writer Jenny Gordon, call 923-3109, extension 240.