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PROCLAIMING THE FIRST WEEK OF EACH CALENDAR SCHOOL YEAR AS "DICTIONARY WEEK"

WHEREAS, It is a known fact that in the State of Rhode Island the illiteracy rate is 19% and in the City of Providence, 54%; and

WHEREAS, A person who does not understand the meanings of words or symbols encounters great difficulty in life; and

WHEREAS, To survive in today's society, the ability to read and write is a necessity; and

WHEREAS, A common sense solution to this problem is to look up the definitions of words and symbols in a dictionary; and

WHEREAS, It is self-evident that the regular use of dictionaries leads to increased literacy in any subject; and

WHEREAS, A literate person is defined as one being able to read and write, and recognize and use the symbols of a language; and

WHEREAS, Without the use of dictionaries, literacy cannot be achieved; and

WHEREAS, Children attending public and private schools in the State of Rhode Island shall be encouraged to look up words or symbols that they do not understand; and

WHEREAS, Educators in the State of Rhode Island are encouraged to ask students the definitions of words and symbols, even the obvious elementary common words, and then request the student to demonstrate their ability to use the word or symbol; and

WHEREAS, The public has free access to dictionaries at public libraries; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby proclaims the first week of each calendar school year as "Dictionary Week"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the President of the United States of America, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the National Foundation of Women Legislators and the Rhode Island Library Association.