School of Education to Host Screening of 'The Right to Read' Documentary

10/03/2024

The Saint Louis University School of Education is hosting a screening event of the award-winning 2023 documentary "The Right to Read." The screening will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in the Tegeler Auditorium. 

Directed by Jenny Mackenzie and executive produced by LeVar Burton, "The Right to Read" shares the stories of an activist, a teacher, and two American families who fight to provide our youngest generation with the most foundational indicator of life-long success: the ability to read.

The event was organized by School of Education graduate student Glenda Nelson and School of Education Assistant Dean Benton M. Brown, Ph.D, as part of the school's 100 years of educating educators celebration. The screening will take approximately 70 minutes and will be followed with a discussion hosted by Ian Buchanan, Ph.D. 

“Literacy and the movement behind reading education was one of the motivations behind wanting our school to host this screening,” Nelson said.  “We hope that this event will spark conversation and ignite a flame of advocacy and action planning that works to eradicate the gaps in reading education.

 "Literacy is more than just an educational priority; it is a civil rights issue. As highlighted in The Right to Read, access to skilled teachers who can effectively teach reading is critical for closing the opportunity gap. At the SLU School of Education, we are committed to ensuring that every student has the right to a high-quality education, and that starts with preparing educators who are equipped with the knowledge and skills to teach the fundamental elements of reading. This screening is a step towards advancing the conversation and our collective action."

For more information or to get involved, reach out to the School of Education at slued@slu.edu.