Senate Amendment Threatens to Doom Writing Project

Publication: St. Joseph News-Press
Date: November 22, 2010

Summary: An amendment scheduled to go to a public Senate vote on November 29 could threaten the funding of the National Writing Project and its local sites, including one in Northwest Missouri that has become a local institution.

Excerpt from Article

How unfortunate that there is such a misunderstanding that not all earmarks are individual legislators' special pet projects," Ms. Frick said of the Prairie Lands project, which was introduced at Western in 1987.

The project offers programs for teachers throughout Northwest Missouri that helps improve writing and student literacy skills. Western and the St. Joseph Public School District match the federal funds ($46,000 last year) to sponsor the programs, which includes teacher learning communities, writing groups and retreats, youth writing camps, and summer institutes. The project touched more than 1,600 teachers in Northwest Missouri.

Dr. Frick said of the teachers beginning a career this year, only one-third of them will remain in five years time. She said teachers who take part in the project are more likely to remain in the teaching profession. Dr. Melody Smith, superintendent of the St. Joseph School District, participated in Prairie Land projects in 1989.

"Personally, it was a watershed moment in my teaching career," Dr. Smith said.

Copyright © 2010 St. Joseph News-Press. Reprinted with permission.
Myers, Jimmy. 2010. "Writing project could be doomed." St. Joseph News-Press , November 22.

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