Honoring Brent Staples:
An Advocate for All Children

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Brent Staples is a member of the New York Times Editorial Board. He earned a Ph.D. in psychology from The University of Chicago. His memoir, Parallel Time: Growing up in Black and White (1994) won the Anisfield Wolff Book Award.

Mr. Staples has written extensively about reading, reading research, learning disabilities, and special education.

In How Shannon Carter Changed Special Education,  Mr. Staples wrote, "The people of Florence, S.C., know Shannon Carter as the owner of Shannon's Clip 'N Snip, a barber shop where the locals get haircuts and conversation . . . Shannon's public school teachers are no doubt surprised to see her running a business and working out a financial plan."

"During the 1980's she finished ninth grade failing virtually every subject, and was nearly illiterate. The schools told Emory and Elaine Carter that their daughter was terminally lazy and would 'never see a day of college.' In truth, Shannon was suffering from a common but undiagnosed learning disability that made it difficult for her to comprehend the little that she could read." Read article

In Championing Children for Whom Reading and Learning Are Difficult, Mr. Staples asked, "Why is Pete Wright a warrior for children?"

He concluded, "People who get help after suffering humiliation in school often grow up to be champions of children who remind them of their younger selves. This is what happened to Mr. Wright." Read article

In recognition of his articles on reading and literacy, the New York Branch of the International Dyslexia Association presented Mr. Staples with a the Priscilla Vail Award.

Pete and Pam Wright took a train to NYC for the event.

We join the IDA in honoring Brent Staples, an advocate for all children.