"I was a very poor reader when I was in the fourth grade," said
Watson, president of Watson & Associates in Seal Beach. "I
was put in a special class with a wonderful teacher who inspired
me and taught me how to read. That one class, which lasted about
a semester, was probably the most significant class I ever took.
It affected my life all the way through college and helped me
to become a success."
Watson's work with CSUSB and local school officials has spawned
the initial $100,000 grant from his company. With the funds,
the university will launch a new literacy institute on campus
to help the area's K-12 schoolchildren. "We try to do a
lot within the community and education is really important to
this community," Watson said. "If we help build up
education then we'll be able to reach a lot of people. This is
very exciting for us."
CSUSB President Albert Karnig said the institute would target
one of the major problems affecting society — illiteracy. "If
you look at what enhances the likelihood of success in life,
the most vital skill is the ability to read," Karnig said. "With
generous funding from Jim Watson, we have a remarkable opportunity
to help schoolchildren become better students, as well as ultimately
more productive citizens who have fuller and more informed lives."
The new institute is designed to help children meet their lifelong
literacy needs with specially developed programs to improve and
enhance their reading abilities, said Patricia Arlin, dean of
the College of Education, which will oversee the institute.
Charles Diamond, an associate vice president with Watson & Associates,
said the company believes it is important for business to be
active participants in their communities. "We saw the need
not only for the local community, but for the students," he
said. "You've got to give back to your community to be a
good neighbor." "Besides the $100,000 grant, the company
will also offer $50,000 for the university to obtain matching
funds," said Ronna Kivisto, the college's development officer.
The institute will be directed and administered by the College
of Education's language, literacy and culture department. Graduate
students working on their reading specialist credentials will
staff the institute under the supervision of faculty. Mary Jo
Skillings, the institute's director, said the institute will
focus on tutoring primary schoolchildren at risk of failing. "We
want to help them continue their education. Education success
will keep children in school longer and help them meet the challenges
of getting into college." But the institute will also work
with children's parents who themselves have literacy problems,
specifically those parents whose native language isn't English. "Lots
of parents use their children as their interpreters. Now this
is an opportunity for the parents to do the same. Parents will
have an opportunity to learn English reading skills here at the
institute," Skillings said.
Research has shown that students who receive focused instruction
in reading post high general literacy scores even over a short
period of time, Arlin said, adding that the graduate students
will themselves benefit from working at the institute because
it will be a good training ground. "Our graduate students
will receive clinical experience in reading development by working
with these children.
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