PARTON’S READING CAMPAIGN IGNITES BRITISH COUNCIL FEUD
LATEST: The U.K. launch of country superstar DOLLY PARTON’s campaign to encourage children to read has ignited a feud within a British town council.
The scheme, which began in the singer’s native Tennessee and now runs in 45 U.S. states, aims to send a book to children every month until the age of five.
Parton’s first U.K.-based Imagination Library is set to open in Rotherham, England on Wednesday (05Dec07), but the decision to delay a scheduled council meeting from 2pm to 3pm in order to host a meet-and-greet lunch with the 61-year-old singer has infuriated councillor Tony Mannion.
He says, "I’m boycotting the lunch and I am outraged that democracy is being put on hold because of a celebrity. I have nothing against Dolly Parton. Not that I know much about her except that she sang 9 To 5. (But) I think that the literacy scheme is a good idea. My objection is over the timing. We have vital business to discuss… and we have few enough council meetings as it is." However Roger Stone, the leader of Rotherham council, insists claims he has postponed the meeting due to his love of the country and western genre are inaccurate.
He says, "It’s being said I’m this fanatical country and western fan. Well, I do like country and western, but I like all sorts of music, like Elvis, for example, because I’m of that age. I admire Dolly Parton but that’s it. This is one man’s objection." Parton was inspired to set up the scheme after witnessing the "lifelong struggle" caused by illiteracy in Tennessee.
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I think it’s great that Dolly is bringing her reading campaign over to the UK. Anything to stop the synthetic Phonic brigade wrecking any chance of young children learning to read! Books for young children and parent(s) to read with them - seeing images and text in context - is definitely the right approach. It even improves spelling when children start to write.
Comment by Richard — December 4, 2007 @ 7:54 pm