As an employee of a Fortune 100 company, I see on a daily basis the importance of written communication. A large majority of modern communication is achieved through writing, and the increasing use of various forms of digital media in the workplace and in daily life will only serve to increase the importance of writing ability. Inability to effectively communicate through writing is often cited as the top deficiency of college graduates entering the workforce. By giving our teachers the tools to be successful in writing instruction, we can greatly increase the odds that students will leave high school and college with the writing ability that so many employers are demanding.

I was lucky enough to be blessed with fantastic teachers who gave me the knowledge and motivation to become a better writer. When I look around at my fellow high school graduates, it is clear that many of us have above average writing abilities. Going to a very small school in rural Mississippi, we could have easily been deprived of the opportunity to excel as writers due to a lack of class options and a small community of teachers. Instead, we had ambitious, forward-looking teachers who knew the skills we needed and made sure we got the training that was necessary for us to succeed. Unfortunately, not all students are given this opportunity. Many teachers lack the skills to effectively teach our youth to be successful writers. A strong writing foundation has proven to be the single most valuable skill I gained in high school, and it has been instrumental in the success I’ve enjoyed at the college level and in the workforce.

Through a variety of professional development programs, the National Writing Project has been working hard to ensure that our teachers are prepared to take on the important task of preparing our youth for the future. However, on March 2, President Obama signed a bill that cut funding for the National Writing Project. I can’t stress the importance of the National Writing Project and the potential long-term benefits it possesses. Although we are faced with difficult economic times, funding for this program should not be considered an expense but rather an investment in our nation's future. The ability to effectively communicate through writing is essential to success in almost any field of employment, and it is essential to our nation if we are to continue to succeed on a global scale. The National Writing Project can help more students have the same quality writing education that I received. By giving teachers the opportunity to be involved with this program, we can ensure that they are given the specialized skills needed to teach writing to our youth.

Much like the theory of compounding interest in the investment world, every penny we can spend now to ensure our students have access to qualified writing instructors will pay increased dividends in the decades to come. The National Writing Project deserves to be viewed as a capital investment in our future and not an unnecessary expense that can be cut. At this critical juncture, I strongly recommend reconsideration of the funding status for the National Writing Project.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Hardin, CPA

Memphis, TN

Thrasher High School, Class of 1997