Reading Rainbow was monumental in the 80’s and 90’s, but it has less luster with today’s students. Perhaps Seth MacFarlane’s support is the generation bridge it needs.
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When I was in grade school, Levar Burton was a god to me. When our teacher would reach up and turn on the TV mounted in the corner of the classroom, I knew Reading Rainbow would begin shortly. My vocal cords prepared to sing the theme song with my classmates, and when “Butterfly in the sky … ” emerged from the speakers, our class went into a frenzy.
For me, it was as much about a man publicly stating that reading was incredibly engaging as it was about the content he shared. For you, our Guyhood readers, Levar Burton is better known from past episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation or from cameo appearances on The Big Bang Theory. There is a noticeable generation gap, and if Levar Burton’s Kickstarter campaign to reboot Reading Rainbow electronically in the classrooms is to be successful beyond pure sums of money, it needs a generation bridge. Let’s call it Reading Rainbow: The Next Generation.
Enter Seth MacFarlane. His willingness to match dollar for dollar donations, up to $1 million is a big deal for a number of reasons.
Second, another man has stepped forward and validated the importance of reading. He is supporting an effort that taps into the love of reading rather than just the act of reading.
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First, Seth MacFarlane is a comedic household name whose influence can reach a wide variety of audiences. His support serves as a generational bridge where our young audiences have a name associated with the cause that they recognize.
Second, another man has stepped forward and validated the importance of reading. He is supporting an effort that taps into the love of reading rather than just the act of reading. His challenge will, I have no doubt, spur other famous men to invest in the literacy and love of reading cause.
Third, his donation promise will directly affect classrooms in need. I do understand that, since the content is delivered through the Reading Rainbow app, it will require technology within those schools to share. For some schools, this might not be as accessible as others. But with an effort like this, we can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Fourth, it puts the literacy as a societal concern central from the same individual also aligned with advocating other important societal conversations–namely, LGBT rights. In 2011, MacFarlane received the Harvard Humanist of the Year Award for his passionate and vocal support of equal rights and social justice issues. Access to quality literature in impoverished neighborhoods may not be Seth’s motivation behind his support, but this very issue is certainly a social justice issue worth addressing.
Thank you Seth MacFarlane, for stepping up. To close, a fitting Seth MacFarlane created look at why something as engaging as Reading Rainbow is necessary.
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Image credit: Doug Kline/flickr