The Roots of Illiteracy Essays
The Roots of Illiteracy
A problem that pervades our society and threatens to undermine all of the "advances" of our culture is illiteracy. Why is illiteracy so prominent in the United States? In such a diverse culture the causes of illiteracy cannot be easily pointed out. The United States has one of the most expensive higher educational systems in the world, yet 43% of adults read at a level that scarcely makes it possible to function in society.
Almost 22% of adults are not be able to find their street on a road map. (McGuinness, p. 9) One in five adults cannot read a road sign, fill out an application, or read an ingredient label (Level 1). High schools give diplomas to graduating classes where 20% read at a...show more content... (McGuinness, p. 6) Reading tutors many times simply run the same drills with students who have difficulty reading that the schools give. This only discourages the child and often leads to functional illiteracy as an adult. (McEwan, p. 7) However, with proper instruction with a reading specialist many kids can overcome their reading deficiencies. In addition to dyslexia and other common disorders there are children who have brain damage. Obviously this is a factor that must be accepted and taken into account when assessing illiteracy though it relates to a small number (2–3% of the total school age population) of literacy challenged kids. (McGuinness, p.116–117)
Reading abilities are directly influenced by a child's social context. The International Studies in Educational Achievement group performed a study to understand correllations between reading proficiency and many social and cultural factors in thirty–two school systems in as many countries. Among the many factors studied certain conditions stand out as having strong correlations to reading ability. Socioeconomic status typically related to a particular reading ability. Poorer less privileged kids were less likely to be able to read at a level appropriate for their age. Typically these parents spent less time reading to or with their kids and possessed less reading material in the home for the children to read. (Elley, p. 92–93) If the parent does not provide a positive reading example for the
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Illiteracy a subtle cause of human suffering
Throughout the recent years, illiteracy has been a problem that affects human in the society, due to lack of knowledge and development that these people lack. This paper attempts to analyze the efforts of Jonathan Kozol and Michelle Obama who argued the heartrending reality of the illiteracy case along with the lack of development in a so progressive country as is the United States. Also, Kozol's major emphasis is, firstly the continued segregation in the American societies based on a few baseless factors such as race and sex. Secondly, he attempts to showcase how and to what extent illiteracy in adults can be not just a flaw in the society but to human ethics in general. Michelle Obama, the first lady of the United States of America is of the same opinion as to how blacks have been denied educations in America for many centuries. There was a preconceived notion that blacks should not and cannot be educated. Both Obama and Kozol are of the same opinion that there has been an indiscrimination of education on a few factors. When the author speaks of illiteracy, he does not simply speak of the economic concerns but on the moral questions and the ethical dilemmas that are faced by a society unanimously when half of its population is illiterate and thereby inefficient towards daily survival. As a result, Illiteracy has been not just a personal lack but a societal one which brings down the economic, political, social and moral standards of that society. I totally agree with the author because indeed, Illiterate people cannot interact in society, they are isolated because they can't write and read, and because of that, they cannot express well as a society. There is no anything better than knowledge because knowledge is the most important power that a person can obtain. A knowledge person can achieve whatever he/she wants, even be a president, which is something that and illiteracy can't. For Instance, (Kozol, page 39) bring the reference of one of the president of the U.S. "James Madison", who said that who wishes to govern them must imbibe the power of knowledge. I fact, what Kozol is attempting here by referencing Madison is to bring back the age–old idea that knowledge
Illiteracy in America
Walking into a class room full of seniors, one might not suspect that some of the students can not read above a third grade reading level (Mcmaster). In fact one million teenagers from the ages of 12 and 17 do not have the reading ability of a third grader. Literacy amongAmerican people is important because it affects our economy greatly. Not only that but it also affects the lives of theAmerican population. Illiteracy is a large problem within the United States that can be reasonably solved using different tactics.
Illiteracy is detrimental to any society. First people must know what it is before the problem can be fixed. Illiteracy can be defined as theinability to read or write. Lately illiteracy...show more content...
This was a faulty system because when children recognize words, sometimes they may think that a certain word has a different meaning. When this happens the mistaken meaning of the word is "ingrained" into the child's head when the problem goes unnoticed for many years. These are only a few of the sources that cause many of the problems that come along with illiteracy.
Being without the ability to read brings along many different problems. One of the most important problems is that dealing with economics. In his article to the "Vocal Point", Mcmaster emphasizes that how illiteracy affects the nation's economy by stating that, America's GNP (Gross National Product) has gone down in the last few years, while the number of illiterate adults has gone up by more than two million a year and every week 44,000 adults are added to the total number of illiterates in the country.
By this fact, it can be seen that there is a relation to the decline in America's economy and the percentage of illiterate people. The ability to read affects our nations money spending as well as, "it costs an estimated $100–200 billion per year in unemployment, welfare, health care, and incarceration costs" (Sachwitz). This fact can be proven in Larry Roberts' article saying that 44 million out of the 191 million adults in America do not have the ability to fill out a job
With the ease of the access of the internet, there is a boom of illiteracy, not just illiteracy in reading and writing, but also the way that the way that we interact with each other, such as being emotionally illiterate. Illiteracy is the quality or state of being illiterate; the inability to read or write. Additionally, being illiterate is showing or being marked by a lack of familiarity with a certain subject, such as languages. Illiterate adults experience poorer health outcomes, less financial security, and lower life expectancies compared to the overall population. Illiteracy has long been recognized that illiteracy is an intergenerational trend that is passed on from parent to child. It imposes a considerable burden on the family or support system of the individual in question, as illiterate adults are highly dependent on others to function and survive. Family members often must do the grocery shopping, pay the bills, fill out forms and documents, and manage the financial affairs of illiterate. Children's parents who did not complete school or have trouble with literacy skills are more likely to be illiterate themselves and are more than five times as likely to drop out of high school as other children. Illiteracy affects society at large through the financial burden that imposes lost productivity and increased taxes for welfare programs, prisons, and crime prevention programs.
There is a link between literacy levels and incarceration. Studies have found that seven
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Teenagers are egocentric. They are very focused on themselves and trying to find ways to stand out and fit in at the same time, when literacy is also a challenge that a teenager faces it makes everything else harder to deal with. Standing out from the group in a negative way can cause a lot of problems, and make teenagers venerable in all meanings of the word. Literacy affects everyone. Causes of illiteracy can vary from mental handicaps to an unstable home life. Parents should know, though the development of a child into a teenager literacy can have effects on emotion, socialization and physicality. The development of a child into a teenager is shaped in many ways and there are many ways literacy can beeffect during that time. The effects of illiteracy or a teenager not having the same level as their peers in terms of literacy can be seen in a teenager's mental health (self–esteem), and relationships with family and friends, appearance (physical presence, physical ability). A teenager's self–worth and mental stability can be directly linked to their level of literacy. Self–esteem is something that can be majorly effected by literacy or the lack of literacy. Being illiterate, an individual can feel like they are dumb and not have a high self–worth. Because they are struggling with a skill that their age group has a lot better of an understanding they will feel left out and exclusion can really hurt a teenager's self–esteem. Being illiterate can also affect them, they can
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What is Illiteracy? An adult or adults with a reading incapacity, a lack of knowledge of a subject, and/or a error in speech or writing according to Encarta World English Dictionary is a person or persons with illiteracy. Ronald Nash the author of an on–line article entitled "The Three Kinds of Illiteracy" he describes the three different types of illiteracy. Nash explains in detail cultural, moral, andfunctional illiteracy in his article. Cultural illiteracy defined by E.D. Hirsch Jr. is to possess the basic information needed to thrive in the modern world (Nash). Moral illiteracy is not being taught or lacked the education and understandings in religious or spiritual beliefs (Nash). Functional illiteracy refers to the inability of an ...show more content...
This survey measured three areas that included: pose, documentation, and quantitative proficiency (Literacy Center for the Midlands–Facts on Illiteracy). Through many studies it has shown that illiteracy has a significant impact on the economy (Economic Impact of Illiteracy in this Country). The American Council of Life Insurance reports that three quarters of the Fortune 500 companies provide some level of remedial training for their workers (Economic Impact of Illiteracy in this Country). According to Economic Impact of Illiteracy in this Country an online article reports that a study done by the Northeast Midwest Institute and The Center for Regional Policy found business losses attribute to basic skills deficiencies run into the hundreds of millions of dollars. This is due to the low productivity, errors, and accidents that occur on the job (Economic Impact of Illiteracy in this Country). Some think that illiteracy may be the cause of many deaths that occur (Illiteracy) About 30% of 2,659 patients had inadequate comprehension of the written instructions on the prescription bottles according to an on–line article entitled Illiteracy. America has many affected areas which illiteracy maybe larger than anyone may seem to think. In Mississippi, the worst ranked state in America, about every third person is placed at level one illiteracy (Roberts). Roberts reports in the state of Michigan that 18% of adults,
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