Concern over tech addiction leads to book drive

An ABC-7 special report about technology addiction has prompted a school organization to start a book drive aimed at encouraging reading among preschoolers.

Gadsden High School teacher Virginia Lerma thanked ABC-7 for the report in an email.

“I was very surprised. It was eye-opening,” she said.

She told ABC-7 that learning about technology’s effect on our mental development was so troubling, she and her students wanted to do something in response.

“Being an early-childhood specialist, I realize that parents use that as a babysitter. And that’s sad,” Lerma said. “It breaks my heart. It really does.”

Lerma said she showed the report to her students in the group Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). They had been looking for a community service project, and felt this offered an opportunity to reintroduce reading to youngsters.

All week, the students have asked their classmates to donate books. So far, they’ve collected hundreds of used books, and have even received money to buy new ones.

They plan to read the books to children at a local preschool.

“If you read to them they start loving it more and they grow up to be good and successful readers,” said Raymundo Barreras, a sophomore at Gadsden.

Once they finish reading, the students will give the books to the kids.

“Seeing little kids use books makes me happy,” said Gadsden student Lesley Meza.

“It’s becoming a lost art,” said Lerma. “We need to take technology out of their little hands and then put books in their hands. Return to basics,” she added.”

Books are being collected at Gadsden High School until Friday.