HR 9005A 2003
1	House Resolution
2	A resolution recognizing "International Literacy Day" in
3	Florida.
4
5	WHEREAS, unfortunately, one of our most obscure holidays,
6	International Literacy Day is observed worldwide on September 8
7	in an effort to call attention to the vital importance of
8	literacy in the lives of individuals, families, and nations, and
9	WHEREAS, findings of the State Department of Education
10	suggest that the illiteracy rate in Florida, one of the highest
11	in the nation, is 25 percent, an indication that 25 percent of
12	the state's adults read and write below a fourth-grade level,
13	and
14	WHEREAS, children of illiterate parents are too often low
15	achievers or poor performers in the classroom, conditions that
16	lead to behavioral problems that adversely affect the learning
17	process of an entire class, and
18	WHEREAS, statistics show the likelihood of being on welfare
19	goes up as literacy levels go down, and three out of four food
20	stamp recipients performed in the two lowest literacy levels,
21	thus negatively impacting our economy, and
22	WHEREAS, in order to break the cycle of illiteracy and its
23	tragic effects on the lives of Floridians through improving the
24	educational levels of our children, we must begin with our
25	adults, NOW, THEREFORE,
26
27	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
28	Florida:
29
30	That the House of Representatives recognizes September 8,
31	2003, as "International Literacy Day" in Florida and urges all
32	residents of the state to better inform themselves of the
33	negative effects of illiteracy and to make a concerted effort to
34	raise the literacy rate in our state, nation, and world.
35	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that schools, civic organizations,
36	and businesses throughout the state play an active role in the
37	observance of International Literacy Day in Florida.