The Roots of Illiteracy Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research Papers

The Roots of Illiteracy A problem that pervades our society and threatens to undermine totally of the advances of our culture is illiteracy. Why is illiteracy so prominent in the joined States? In such a diverse culture the causes of illiteracy can non 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 direct that scarcely makes it possible to function in society. Almost 22% of adults be not be able to find their street on a route map. (McGuinness, p. 9) One in five adults cannot read a road sign, fill out an application, or read an ingredient label (Level 1). lavishly schools give diplomas to graduating classes where 20% read at a second crisscross level or worse (Level 1). College graduates do not score some(prenominal) better with 12% able to read at a after part vagabond level or worse (Level 2). Should society be concern when only 3% of the population are capable of reading and comprehending a jury selection outline? Is the educational system to blame for nettled out kids who can barely function in society? be the elementary school teachers at fault because they pass students to the next grade level when they are incapable of putting their simplest ideas on paper? Or is it biological, stemming from learning disorders or brain damage? All of these forces affect our countrys inability to read. (Level 1-minimal level of competence Level 2-barely literate up to Level 5- progress level 3% of all adults scored Level 5 McGuinness, p. 9-10) The possibility that children do not learn to read because of physical causes has been the focus of many studies. Dyslexia is common land problem and can be successfully overcome with the appropriate ins... .... (Elley, p.228) To authorise the problem of illiteracy in the U.S. and the world will take condemnation and a better understanding of the many causes that create our society of readers. The rate of literacy for achieving fulfilling, productive, expanding and participating lives of freedom in modern societies is undoubted, and unquestioned. At the same time, however, literacy does not seem to be well understood. &endashH. Graff (Ed.). (1981). Literacy and social development in the western United States A reader. Works Cited Elley, Warwick B. 1994. The I.E.A. Study of Reading Literacy Achievement and Instruction in Thirty-Two School Systems, Great Britain, Pergamon. McEwan, Elaine K. 1989. The Principals Guide to Raising Reading Achievement, super C Oaks, CA. Corwin Press. McGuinness, Diane. 1997. Why Our Children Cant Read, New York, The Free Press.