Community organization to hold adult-tutoring workshops

To promote adult education and literacy in Harrisonburg/Rockingham County, the Skyline Literacy Coalition offers volunteer training workshops for tutoring participants in English as a second language.

SLC is a nonprofit organization designed to help adults in the area with their literacy skills. Volunteer tutors are provided to teach basic concepts such as reading, writing, math and English as a second language. Tutors are expected to work at least two hours per week.

At present, SLC has more than 160 active volunteers working with 220-plus students throughout the Harrisonburg/Rockingham County area.

"This job can mean many things," said Sylvia Whitney, SLC public relations head. "If you are a young student [who wants to tutor], it’s a chance to see what the town is all about and experience what volunteer work is."

According to statistics from the 2000 U.S. Census Data, 13 percent of adults over 25 years of age in Harrisonburg/Rockingham County have less than a ninth grade education. Twenty-seven percent of adults over 16 years of age have less than a high school education.

"Literacy is an important issue," said Jay Morgan-Bungard, director of SLC. "English is something that we take for granted. [The learners] really want to learn English, but they really don’t have the opportunity."

Training takes place Nov. 18, 20 and 22 at the SLC office, which is located next to the Dayton Learning Center. The workshop is free and attendance of all sessions is necessary to participate.