Bride Wilma Redhorse and brother James
Guests arriving at the ceremonial hogan
Groom
Harrison
Joe
Charley
June 26
1970 KANSAN 7
Charles Begay, uncle of the bride performed the ceremony
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White House staff scores tops in Reading Dynamics
On hand for the graduation ceremonies was Evelyn Wood, the former Utah school teacher, who developed the techniques that have enabled students to increase their reading skills by an average factor of 4.7 times.
"The high motivation of the White House students is explained by the incredible reading load that faces them in their jobs," according to Peter Kump, who, along with Shirley Carter of Evelyn Wood, was responsible for teaching the course. "The White House staff members work 12 hours a day, six days a week; the
The classes were conducted at the White House under the direction of Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics. The company operates over 150 institutes in the United States and abroad and has taught rapid reading techniques to more than 450,000 persons in the last ten years.
Washington, D.C., May 25—The White House had a graduation ceremony tonight-for staff members, including top presidential aides, who submitted themselves to a rigorous eight-week course in rapid reading techniques.
Their purpose: to get out from under the pile of government paper and to put more stretch in their already demanding, 12-hour day, six-day a week schedule.
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only way they can get through the mounds of reading material is to increase their reading efficiency. We have been teaching what we call responsible reading which implies not mentioning content coupled with faster reading. The students have been able to increase their reading rates three to four times; in effect, they have succeeded in 'creating' additional productive hours every day."
Terry Cahill, general manager and executive vice president of Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics with headquarters in New York City, commented, "The fact that Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics was selected to conduct these classes at the White House attests to the efficacy of the technique that has been instrumental in helping thousands to improve their reading skills."
Typical comments from the White House staff on the course include the following: "This course has given me the insight to achieve at a greater rate of speed." "Very good; has improved reading skills and comprehension tremendously." "The course has increased my reading speed to well over five times my previous ability. A course of this type is of great value to all who are required to read for background." "The methodology and instruction have been excellent." "Should be taught in early life in school."
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Mrs. Wood, who now resides in Salt Lake City, addressed the class and presented a certificate of graduation to each student. In a separate ceremony, Mrs. Wood presented United States Commissioner of Education, Dr. James E. Allen, Jr., with 100 Reading Dynamic scholarships "to be awarded by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to individual and/or groups that in the opinion of the department could benefit from the techniques of rapid reading and contribute to their educational enrichment."
Mrs. Wood said that the scholarships are being awarded "in recognition of the 'Right To Read' program as the nation's number one educational priority and in commemoration of the department's efforts to encourage students to read at the ton of their skills and thus to better prepare them for a responsible place in society."
White House staff members who were enrolled in the class included: Ron Ziegler, secretary; Patrick Buchanan, special assistant to the President; Dwight Chapin, staff assistant; Kenneth Cole, Jr.; denuty assistant for domestic affairs; Leonard Garment, special consultant to the President; General James Donald Hughes, military assistant to
the President; Egil Krogh,
deputy assistant to the President
for domestic affairs; John E.
Niedecker, deputy special
assistant to the President;
John Price, staff assistant to
the President; Constance
Stuart, staff director to Mrs.
Nixon; Rose Mary Woods, personal secretary to the President, and Dr. Stanley Bear,
the President's doctor.
This is the second time that Reading Dynamics has been taught at the White House, Mr. Cahill said. In 1962 President John F. Kennedy, who was a naturally fast reader, invited Mrs. Wood to the White House to teach reading improvement to members of his staff.
It was in 1959 that Mrs. Wood brought her new reading techniques to Washington, D.C. Many prominent figures successfully took the course including 23 U.S. Senators and Representatives. Originally Mrs. Wood started to research rapid reading techniques while a graduate student at the University of Utah. After receiving a master's degree in 1945, she began to develop teaching techniques that would later become the basis of Reading Dynamics, the world's largest reading improvement program.
In her system, the essence of rapid reading is to read down the page, not from left to right; to read groups of words or complete thoughts, not a
word at a time; to avoid involuntary rereading of material, and to transfer reading efficiency to various reading materials.
Her method employs the use of the hand as a pacer. The course, which requires some daily home practice, is given over an eight-week period, usually with a $2\frac{1}{2}$ hour class held once a week. Students learn to read different materials at flexible rates, depending on the reading purpose. They also learn to improve study and recall habits.
Today Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics is a subsidiary of FAS International, Inc., an educational service company with 400,000 active students studying in 60 countries.
The Reading Dynamics Institute in Lawrence will have a special four week course beginning July 7. This course will meet Tuesday evenings and Friday afternoons throughout the month of July.
Free speed reading lessons will be given at the Holiday Inn Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, at 3:00, 5:30 and 8:00 p.m. This lesson will illustrate the essentials of Reading Dynamics and will provide the public with an opportunity to ask questions concerning the course.
For information concerning the free lessons and the special four week course call VI3-6426.