THE NOV. 26 editorial entitled "Rescue reading" was misinformed when it said that the National Endowment for the Arts is using recent surveys only to "raise the issue of reading's demise." In fact, the NEA is putting its money into its initiative, The Big Read, in 117 communities throughout the United States, and will expand to more than 200 communities in 2008.
In Massachusetts, Deerfield and Attleboro received grants for their reading efforts. Coverage of our events in the local newspaper and on cable access TV was excellent, but efforts to enlist the Globe to cover Attleboro's programs this fall were ignored.
The Big Read/Attleboro's 1 ABC (1 Adventure, 1 Book, 1 Community) involved groups throughout the community in activities related to Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451," with support from area colleges and grants from area banks.
Tenth-graders received copies of the book, which was part of the high school curriculum.
Reading is alive in Attleboro, and we are at work planning for our 2008 initiative.
VIC BONNEVILLE
Cochairman
The Big Read/Attleboro's 1 ABC program
Attleboro
