Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
02/06/2018 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SR7 | |
| SR8 | |
| SCR5 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SR 7 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SCR 5 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SR 8 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SCR 5-ALASKA READS DAY
3:44:25 PM
CHAIR MEYER called the committee back to order. He announced the
consideration of Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 (SCR 5).
3:44:47 PM
SENATOR BERTA GARDNER, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,
sponsor of SCR 5, explained that the resolution would proclaim
March 2, 2018 as "Alaska Reads Day." She provided an overview of
SCR 5 as follows:
Early literacy has been a passion of mine for a long
time, not only with an interest in education for the
state, but also because I have two children who are
dyslexic in various degrees; I've had an awareness of
it to find out my husband is dyslexic too. I've seen
the difficulties that some kids have in learning to
read and I've also seen the impacts it has on them in
terms of self-esteem, struggles and things like that,
and I've followed it. My kids have grown up, they are
successful, independent, starting their own families
now but I am very much aware of how different their
stories might have been had they not had the support
and resources from their school, from our family, and
an understanding of what they were struggling with.
I've been to a lot of conferences and I tend to
gravitate to the issues about education and about
reading proficiencies. I've heard a lot of experts
talk about social and economic consequences of reading
difficulties or failure of people not being able to
read proficiently, particularly by third grade. There
is a national effort to talk about learning to read up
to about third grade and then reading to learn after
third grade. I was at one conference where a group of
retired military generals, admirals and such
presented, and they talked about the lack of reading
proficiency being a national security issue, that they
can't assume that all of their people can read well
enough to follow instructions and understand manuals.
So, they got involved in the movement to try to
promote reading proficiency.
We have all heard the reports that the state is not
strong in reading proficiency and that it is a chronic
problem and we don't seem to have been able to address
it effectively; that being said, I'm not a fan of
resolutions, generally not a huge fan of task forces,
although sometimes they are effective but I introduced
this resolution at the request of a reading advocate
and I assume you will hear from her. I am a fan of the
multi-pronged approach to addressing some of these
thorny, complex problems and there are a lot of
elements to address it for part of it is awareness,
part of it is early exposure. There are a lot of
organizations that work, it's effective teachers, it's
PTA programs, and there are lots of things that can
happen to help.
This resolution is one small part to draw awareness to
the issue, to be part of a national effort. There is a
national "Read Across America Day" which has developed
a lot of resources to help promote it, libraries are
involved, PTAs and such. I think one of the things I
want to emphasize as much as I can is one way to
engage kids and get them involved and interested in
really wanting to do it is that it is fun, it's fun
and it helps you be successful in almost any thing you
start to do.
I remember the first book I was every given that was
my own, I came from a family of four kids and we had a
lot of books but this one was my very own, it was a
birthday present, I don't know if I was three or four,
but it was, "The Cat in The Hat Comes Back," and I
loved it dearly. I remember that Christmas when I was
five my parents got us the Childcraft Encyclopedia and
years later when mother persuaded us to move them
along to other children, I kept my favorite volume and
I still have it today and I read it to my grandkids; I
think that is really how you engage kids in reading,
it's great, great fun.
3:49:44 PM
SENATOR GARDNER explained that since the resolution was
originally introduced the date has become problematic. She
disclosed that she did not choose the date, but the date was
chosen by a national program. She disclosed that it has come to
her attention that Dr. Seuss, the beloved writer of children's
books, was not the man many had hoped he would be, that there
have been indications that he was very racist. She asserted that
she was not fully committed to the resolution's observation date
but added that being part of the national program that one
agrees with would be nice. She emphasized that the resolution is
not about honoring Dr. Seuss, but about encouraging kids,
families and communities to help children succeed by starting
with literacy.
SENATOR WILSON thanked Senator Gardner for addressing his
concern that he mentioned to her earlier. He asked if Senator
Gardner had an alternate date in mind.
SENATOR GARDNER replied that any date would work. She reiterated
that SCR 5 is about the issue addressed in the resolution.
3:51:19 PM
JACOB TATUM, Staff, Senator Gardner, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, stated that SCR 5 would be an important step in
addressing substandard reading proficiency in Alaska. He set
forth that the resolution intends to connect readers of all ages
within the wide network of services, organizations, and
advocates that have reading proficiency at the core of their
mission. He detailed that SCR 5 would honor the birthday of Dr.
Seuss on March 2, 2018, a day envisioned where Alaskan
communities celebrate Alaska Reads Day to promote all things
reading.
3:55:14 PM
CHAIR MEYER opened public testimony.
3:55:26 PM
ANNA NEIDIG, Member, Alaska Reading Coalition, Anchorage,
Alaska, testified in support of SCR 5 as follows:
I am testifying in support as a member of the Alaska
Reading Coalition, and as Vice President of the Alaska
International Dyslexia Association.
I want to tell you the value of passing an "Alaska
Reads Day" resolution. When I learned about this
resolution, I did not realize it had not yet completed
the full legislative process toward enactment. Under
this misunderstanding, I reached out to my local
library in excitement to schedule a collaborative
event. Loussac Library staff heartily embraced the
idea; they immediately saw it as a great opportunity
to grow their already scheduled Dr. Seuss birthday
celebration into a larger, more encompassing, outreach
event.
On March 2, 2018, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss' birthday, the
Loussac Library in Anchorage will be hosting three Dr.
Seuss book readings in the Wilda Marston Theatre and
has opened its newly renovated atrium to local
outreach organizations. So simply the rumor of an
"Alaska Reads Day" has already created an effective
platform for collaborative community outreach to
families at high risk of low reading proficiency.
Public and private organizations are already rallying
around "Alaska Reads Day."
Our collaborative event is geared to increasing
exposure in language and other pre-reading skills that
help children succeed. We will have fun activities for
children, a checklist for identifying reading
struggles, and information about resources for
struggling readers.
So, with great enthusiasm, despite a little
legislative process misunderstanding, speaking on
behalf of the Alaska Reading Coalition and the Alaska
International Dyslexia Association, please pass SCR 5
because in our minds you already have.
3:57:40 PM
CHAIR MEYER closed public testimony.
SENATOR EGAN thanked Senator Gardner for introducing SCR 5. He
recounted being a longtime advocate for reading in Alaska. He
disclosed that his daughter volunteers as a director with Dolly
Parton's [Imagination Library] that works with the state's Best
Beginnings program.
CHAIR MEYER asked if the committee members had possible
amendments.
4:00:42 PM
SENATOR WILSON explained that he was very supportive of SCR 5.
He noted that he cosponsored the initiative for the Dyslexia
Task Force and believed in Alaska's education. He disclosed that
he was going to school to become a teacher and have a degree in
education.
He offered a conceptual amendment to strike verbiage in the
resolution that references Dr. Seuss and to keep the observation
date of March 2, 2018. He asked that lines 29-31 on page 2 and
line 1 on page 3 be stricken from the resolution and that the
date be kept maintaining alignment with the activities that have
already been planned.
CHAIR MEYER asked him to confirm that the conceptual amendment
was to delete lines 29-31 on page 2 and line 1 on page 3.
SENATOR WILSON answered correct.
4:00:55 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL objected for discussion purposes.
CHAIR MEYER asked Senator Gardner if she would like to address
Senator Wilson's conceptual amendment.
SENATOR GARDNER replied that she appreciated the amendment and
the spirt in which it is intended. She said she agreed with the
amendment and thanked Senator Wilson for providing a resolution
to the conflict.
CHAIR MEYER asked if there were additional objections or
comments.
SENATOR COGHILL pointed out that Dr. Seuss was being removed
from the resolution and asked why the amendment was being
offered.
SENATOR WILSON explained that the amendment reflected the
national attention debating Dr. Seuss's earlier
characterizations and cartoons between 1920-1940. He asserted
that he and some of his constituents harbor an issue with
honoring Dr. Seuss due to controversies that have not been fully
addressed.
4:02:25 PM
SENATOR COGHILL noted that he objected only because he thought
Dr. Seuss's later work showed extreme tolerance for all kinds of
people. He opined that Dr. Seuss's earlier work may not be the
best way to judge him. He asserted that he has not heard what
Senator Wilson was referencing regarding a national discussion
on Dr. Seuss, especially if the entanglement was the kind in the
politically-correct-zone rather than a real problem. He stated
that he has been active in trying to help people read through
the use of Dr. Seuss. He summarized that he was surprised and
objected because he did not know the issue that Senator Wilson
was talking about.
CHAIR MEYER asked Senator Gardner if she has heard of the same
concerns that Senator Wilson has voiced.
SENATOR GARDNER explained that Senator Wilson brought the issue
regarding Dr. Seuss to her attention and she spent time prior to
the committee meeting to find another children's author of
stature that could be substituted. She emphasized that her
effort is to draw attention to reading. She opined that Dr.
Seuss has certainly brought a great deal of pleasure to children
and adults as well and that was probably why he was selected to
be sort of the symbol of "Alaska Reads Day." She reiterated that
whatever the committee wants to do is fine with her.
4:04:30 PM
SENATOR WILSON emphasized that he did not want his issue with
Dr. Seuss to be a controversy that the Legislature must take up
later should the public call the act into question. He asserted
that his intent is to head-off the debate regarding Dr. Seuss.
SENATOR GIESSEL stated that she agreed with Senator Coghill. She
noted that she stayed appraised of national topics and she has
not heard of what Senator Wilson addressed, something that comes
as a surprise to her as well.
CHAIR MEYER suggested that the committee needs to get a better
understanding and clarification of Senator Wilson's concern. He
admitted that he was not aware of the issue that Senator Wilson
revealed. He asked that Senator Wilson provide the committee
with additional information.
4:06:11 PM
CHAIR MEYER held SCR 5 in committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SR 7 Version J.PDF |
SSTA 2/6/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SR 7 |
| SR 7 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SSTA 2/6/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SR 7 |
| SCR5 - Version A.pdf |
SSTA 2/6/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 5 |
| SCR 5 - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SSTA 2/6/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 5 |
| SCR 5 - Support Document-Condoleezza Letter 2.2.18.pdf |
SSTA 2/6/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 5 |
| SCR 5 - Support Document-PBS Article 2.2.18.pdf |
SSTA 2/6/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 5 |
| SCR 5 - Support Document-data summary 2.2.18.pdf |
SSTA 2/6/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 5 |
| SCR 5 - Support Document Annie E. Casey--Early Literacy 2.2.18.pdf |
SSTA 2/6/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 5 |
| SR 8 Ver. D.PDF |
SSTA 2/6/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SR 8 |
| SR7 Fiscal Note.pdf |
SSTA 2/6/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SR 7 |
| SCR 5-support document-Testimony of Posie Boggs of Alaska Reading Coalition 2.5.18.pdf |
SSTA 2/6/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 5 |
| SCR 5 Testimony.pdf |
SSTA 2/6/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 5 |
| SR 8 Black History Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SSTA 2/6/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SR 8 |