The importance of reading in law enforcement work may not be the most popular concern, but for Scott Lyons, Law Enforcement Program coordinator at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, and Kristine Cohn, United States Department of Education Secretary's regional representative, it was a main point of discussion at the college Wednesday morning.
"It's not the words [students] can't read, but we do have a challenge with reading comprehension," Lyons told Cohn, who was visiting campus to discuss federal and local education issues. "In policing, we have to write and read rapidly in the environment ... it's surprising how many law enforcement officers don't read well."
Cohn said the problem is nationwide and at the federal level, programs in grades K-3 and in middle schools have been launched specifically in the last eight years to combat it.
"I always tell students that it's not how fast you read, but it's what you comprehend," she said.
Cohn also spoke with three FDLTCC students studying law enforcement, Maurice Morris, Steven Cook and Jessica Smith, and after asking them why they chose that profession and how they felt about their education, she thanked them for their future service.
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Afterward, Cohn met with Linda Shelton in Student Support Services, American Indian Business Leaders and people involved in the Summer Youth Enrichment programs. As one of the students involved in the American Indian Business Leaders spoke of the "hardware" their group had won in the past year, Cohn congratulated the group, but also asked about their additional experiences.
As the student and others eagerly explained their projects implemented to serve the community, Cohn smiled and told them those experiences will take them further than their hardware.
Cohn later participated in a community roundtable discussion with local public school superintendents, elected officials, community and business leaders and college administrators. From there, Cohn traveled to the Fond du Lac Reservation to tour the schools and the Fond du Lac Tribal Center.
Since her appointment as the Secretary's regional representative by President George W. Bush in May 2004, Cohn has logged thousands of miles to discuss federal education issues with students teachers, parents and administrators. It was her first trip to Cloquet, according to Tom Urbanski, FDLTCC director of public information.
