Wicker Reaffirms Support for National Writing Project
WICKER REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL WRITING PROJECT
By Congressman Roger F. Wicker
April 18, 2005
Educators associated with the National Writing Project came from all across the nation earlier this month to participate in the organization's spring meeting in Washington, D.C. I had the opportunity to address the group and offer continued support for their mission to improve writing in America.
This project has earned praise for its effectiveness in helping students become more successful writers and learners. The teacher training initiatives have produced creative ways to make writing interesting for students in a wide range of subject areas. These efforts are credited with boosting achievement scores and strengthening students' ability to express themselves more effectively.
MISSISSIPPI TEACHERS LEADING
Mississippi educators are fully engaged in this project. Seven center sites, located at universities throughout our state, have provided training to more than 10,000 participants. The workshops and professional development curriculum have given teachers the tools to motivate students and produced positive results.
The Mississippi Writing Project sites are located at the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State, Delta State, Alcorn State, Mississippi Valley State, and at the Hattiesburg and Gulf Coast campuses of the University of Southern Mississippi.
The value of good writing goes far beyond the classroom. The ability to write is essential to communicating in many aspects of our lives. This skill can open doors for advancement in almost any career path an individual might choose. Employers place a high premium on hiring people who can write and communicate with others.
A VALUABLE SKILL
The National Commission on Writing surveyed 120 human resources directors of companies affiliated with the Business Roundtable. These executives listed writing as a threshold skill for salaried employment and promotion. The chief executive officer of one of those companies said the need to write clearly and quickly "has never been more important than in today's highly competitive, technology-driven global economy."
Educators have made great progress in helping students advance their writing skills, but much work remains. One recent survey found that most fourth-grade students spend less than three hours a week writing, which is about 15 percent of the time they spend watching television. Additional research shows that about 50 percent of students in grades 4, 8, and 12 meet only "basic" writing requirements and only 20 percent can be called "proficient."
The challenge for teachers is to show students how good writing can boost academic achievement and provide a solid foundation for the increasing demands they will face in college and the workplace. The National Writing Project has enabled teachers to employ the most effective and innovative new practices in pursuit of those goals.
EMPOWERING STUDENTS, TEACHERS
One educator who participated in a writing project workshop said, "I have seen how writing project philosophy empowers students and teachers, resulting in higher student performance, postsecondary achievement, and teacher growth." Through these resources, teachers are becoming better writers and sharing that knowledge with more students in Mississippi and across the U.S.
http://www.house.gov/wicker/WritingProject.htm