Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Maggie Kernan, wife of Indiana's Lieutenant Governor Joe Kernan, stopped in Warsaw Wednesday during a whirlwind tour of northern Indiana promoting the works of the Indiana Literacy Foundation and local literacy agencies.
Joining Kernan at a reception Wednesday were Kent Lebherz, president of Ameritech Indiana, and Ed Castor, who learned to read at age 45 after hiding the lack of that ability for years on the job.
"I feel very strongly about the issue of literacy. As a businesswoman, I know the importance of an educated, qualified work force," Kernan said. "I was very fortunate because my parents made sure I could read at a very early age. I find it hard to imagine what it must be like to have to function in our society without that ability."
Living life without the ability to read and write is stressful and embarrassing, Castor said. But there is help for Hoosiers who find themselves where Castor was in 1986 - tired of hiding his illiteracy.
"For many years, I was only surviving. When you can't read, you live in constant fear of being found out," Castor said. "Today, I'm living. People like me can learn to read. We just need some help."
What needs to be done, Castor said, is for local literacy organizations and employers to make an effort to let those who can't read know that embarrassment shouldn't prevent action to correct the problem.
"The only thing you need to be ashamed of is not taking advantage of the help that's available, not that you can't read," he said.
Castor's employer, General Motors, gave him the help in the early 1980s. After completing the reading remediation program, Castor earned his GED. He now directs GM's company-wide reading remediation program.
Encouraging business to offer that type of support was at the heart of Kernan's and Castor's tour around the state.
"The good news is, we have the facts. We know what the problem is and we know what the solutions are," Kernan said. "Please help spread the word about literacy. There are programs available locally that can help adults correct their inability to read."
Programs like the Kosciusko County Literacy Volunteers. According to director Grace Abbot, the volunteers offer one-on-one tutoring for literacy, English as a second language and GED preparation.
For more information about the KCLV, call 267-5380.
