DEAR EDITOR:

Youngstown and Ohio face a persistent literacy challenge, with only 35% of fourth graders reading at grade level, and worse results among eighth graders. While new mandates focus on the “Science of Reading,” we should also consider proven methods from the past — specifically, the McGuffey Reader.

Created by William Holmes McGuffey, a former Ohio University president, these readers shaped generations of literate, thoughtful and morally grounded citizens. For over a century, they formed the backbone of American education, selling over 120 million copies and teaching students classic literature, critical thinking and public speaking.

The McGuffey Readers taught reading through phonics and repetition, reinforced vocabulary in context, and emphasized comprehension and oration. Their incremental structure ensured mastery, and their stories instilled perseverance and civic virtue. Critics may call them outdated, but the readers have evolved and can be updated to reflect today’s diversity and values.

A modernized McGuffey curriculum could blend foundational skills with stories of diverse heroes and contemporary relevance. By drawing on our educational heritage, we can address today’s literacy crisis and give our children the tools for a brighter future.

TIM ROSENBERGER

Niles