NEW EDITION OF THE THREAD THAT RUNS SO TRUE

This year--2006--is the centennial of the birth of one of America's best-known and best-loved authors, Jesse Stuart of Greenup County, Kentucky. The most influential of Stuart's books is "The Thread That Runs So True," an inspirational account of his teaching experiences in a one-room school near his home. First published in 1949, this book has inspired thousands of Americans to become teachers. In this centennial year, the Jesse Stuart Foundation is pleased to announce that a commemorative edition of Stuart's classic work has just been published.

Teachers all across America found a hero and role model in Jesse Stuart and read Thread and his other books at every level of the educational system. "The Thread That Runs So True" became much more than a book about teaching in a one-room school. It was a psalm of praise to the teaching profession and Stuart was "the school teacher of America."

Stuart published "The Thread That Runs So True" fifty-seven years ago to promote an improved educational system that emphasized both literacy and character education. He felt that America's survival depended on these changes. That was true then, and it is still true.

"The Thread That Runs So True" is as important today as it was half a century ago, because many of the same problems still exist in slightly different forms. Society has invested billions of dollars in public education. The buildings are modern and the libraries are filled with books and computers, but our system is still failing in many ways, and we are becoming a less literate society, because we spend too much time watching television and not enough time reading.

"The Thread That Runs So True" is also a clarion call for character education, and that's something we need more today than we did in 1949. Character education was a persistent theme in Stuart's books and in his lectures. Over and over, he said, "I'd rather have a C student with an A character, than an A student with a C character."

In 1960 he wrote: "In this second half of the twentieth century, we need to teach that which goes beyond personal security, a full stomach and a fine automobile. We have boasted too loud and too long about our high standards of living. Shouldn't we aim also, and primarily, for high moral standards, for honesty-in a word, for character? We who are older should set a better example for youth to follow."

As a community, and as a nation, let's accept Stuart's challenge. Perhaps we can begin by setting a good personal example. We're all teachers, because we all teach by example. I encourage Americans to read this important book and promote its use. Let's not sit idle while our society becomes progressively worse. Reading this book is a small step in the right direction, for "The Thread That Runs So True"-a book that promotes literacy, character education, and public responsibility--is a book for our time and for all time.

Our beautiful new hardback edition of "The Thread That Runs So True" is now available at the Jesse Stuart Foundation Bookstore at 1645 Winchester Avenue in downtown Ashland.

For more information, call (606) 326-1667 or visit our website JSFBOOKS.COM