Organization Background Of Literacy Connections Essay

Organization Background Of Literacy Connections Essay
ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND
Literacy Connections is a 501 (c) (3) non–profit organization founded in 1975 as Literacy
Volunteers of America–Dutchess County, Inc. We later changed our name to Literacy Connections
of the Hudson Valley, Inc.
Literacy Connections (LC) is dedicated to developing and offering programs and services to support
a literate society. We recruit and train volunteers to provide no–cost student–centered tutoring
primarily for adults, and we offer programs and services for children and families that promote
independence and enrichment through literacy.
Literacy Connections serves adult students with the lowest literacy level and immigrants lacking the
language skills needed to get a job, help their school–age children and navigate society. Volunteers
are recruited, trained and supported to provide one–on–one or small group tutoring to adult students.
Recognizing that illiteracy is a family issue, our Book Buddies and Classroom Book Buddies
programs recruits volunteers to read one–to–one once a week with a child who is struggling with
reading in the 2–4 grades. Our goal is to prevent adult illiteracy by helping children achieve grade–
level or better reading skills at the critical time when children are transitioning from learning to read
to reading to learn.
Approximately 36 million adults in America are considered to be illiterate; about 14% of the entire
adult population cannot read or is limited to reading at the basic or below basic proficiency levels.
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Low Literacy Is A Prevalent Problem Among Adults
Reading is a skill often taken for granted by many in today's modern society; however, low literacy
is a prevalent problem among adults in the United States with potentially devastating consequences.
According to Literacy INC., "a study conducted in late April 2015 by the US Department of
Education and the National Institute of Literacy, 32 million adults in the United States can't read
above a fifth–grade level, and 19% of high school graduates can't read" (About Us – Literacy Inc.,
n.d.). That means that nearly 7.6% of American adults can't read as well as your average fifth grader.
Statistically that means that out of almost every 25 people you meet 2 of them cannot read. As bad
as this problem is nationally, Chicago is much worse where literacy rates are far below the norm.
Literacy Chicago states that Chicago has a Literacy rate of only 53% (Cho, 2012). This data is
especially alarming. Think and consider that nearly half of Chicago's population cannot read
proficiently.
Although some people are completely illiterate, meaning that they completely lack the ability to
both read and write, most are simply functionally illiterate. Functional illiteracy as stated by Daniel
Lattier is defined by the UNESCO and he sums it up as the following, "The UNESCO definition
implies that a functionally literate person possesses a literacy level that equips him or her to flourish
in society. A functionally illiterate person, on the other hand, may be able to perform very basic
reading

Literacy Is The Most Important Quality Essay
Literacy is important. If you're not literate, how will you ever be able to function in society? As
someone who is literate, and barely functions himself, this is important. There is quite a lot to think
about here. For example, "How does one become literate?" or, "Is literacy even important?" or,
"How does literacy open and close doors?" Yes that's right, I said close. If one is literate they can do
anything, or nothing. One can masterfully piece words together in such a way that they anger
people, sadden people, and more. Literacy is the most important quality a person can have, while
also being the least important quality a person can have. Yes, those statements were intentionally
contradictory, and no, they weren't clever time wasters. Those statements are to show that literacy is
hard to talk about. So let's try to have a nice little examination of literacy. When talking about
literacy one must, consequently, start at the bottom and work up. It just makes the whole discussion
easier. How does one even become literate? Every single person on the planet will give a different
answer. There's not some how–to book for becoming literate, or some pill you take. You do things
that involve other people's works of literature and build your own semblance of literacy off of theirs
until finally, your literacy has enough gumption to stand up on the metaphorical literature pedestal
with Dickens and Tolstoy. Of course, I haven't quite made it that far yet. So here is my story up to

Illiteracy : The Interior Demon
Rayce B. Gibson
Mrs. O'Sullivan
English 2
4 September 2015
Illiteracy: The Interior Demon Imagine a young fourth grader sitting in a classroom with about
twenty other children. At first, they all appear to be the same. Just a blur of average–looking
students sitting at their desks with literature books opened up to page forty–five. The teacher is
calling on each of the students, asking them to each read a paragraph from the selected passage. All
of them are having no trouble with verbalizing the words that are printed on the page that is until the
teacher calls out the name of that one specific child, the one that sits in the back at the corner table,
with a little bead of sweat running down their forehead, the one that stumbles on the ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
All in all, there are obvious advantages and conveniences in possessing the ability to read and write.
These include a security in economics, being able to obtain health care, and having the capability to
actively engage in the community (Crum). In addition, it helps people achieve their desired career.
Also, written composition is an important aspect in almost every academic course that exists. It is
rare to have a class where there is no written component. As can be seen, literacy is an important
aspect of all things that lead to success. On the negative side of things, two–thirds of the students
who are not able to read adequately by the end of their fourth grade year will end up in jail or on
welfare. According to the Department of Justice, there is a close relation between not being able to
read or write and "delinquency, violence, and crime" (Literacy Statistics). This information is
backed up by the astonishing fact that over seventy percent of the inmates in America cannot read
above a fourth grade level. To put it in another way, an average fifth grader is more literate than the
majority of the inmates that are in this nation's prisons. It is also important to realize the statistics
connected to juvenile delinquency and illiteracy. Being stated in the previously mentioned source,
"85 percent of all juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate"
(Literacy Statistics). This shows a direct

Alvin Toffler
Illiteracy in Time A writer named Alvin Toffler reveals the true meaning of illiteracy in the 21st
century. Those who are "illiterate" won't be the illiterates, but those who don't want to reconstruct
their knowledge, accept intelligence and those who force themselves to not accept the evolution of
education, will be defined as illiterate. Illiteracy in the 21st century has an immensely different view
from then and now. Illiteracy can be portrayed as those who are illegible to work in terms of
educational background. Alvin Toffler, a writer and futurist has been known from his work ethics.
He has been known for working with digital revolution and his technological singularity write ups.
Alvin Toffler is currently 85 years old and was born ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The effects of illiteracy has segregated those who understand things and know what is happening
around the world and those who force themselves to shut down. Illiteracy in school defines as
"unable to read and write." But thinking simultaneously, illiterates in another country won't mean
the same, but rather for it to mean as "simple minded students who don't do work on their own and
use technologies to do their work." From experience, the amount of homework given to students
today is ridiculous. Students start to stress more and more because they either can't finish their
homework on time due to the amount of hours one subject is given, and or because of the extra–
curricular activities being introduced and suggested to students in high school. Illiteracy relates to
teachers handing out plenty of homework time because if students feel the way they do about
receiving 5 hours of homework, they tend to fall and feel nothing in terms of choosing not to do any
homework. And teachers do not understand that sometimes when students try explaining why
students could not finish their homework, the explanation is not being accepted. Teachers, School
staff also reiterate that students should have 8 hours of sleep but yet students spend 7 hours of
school time taking notes, testing, and trying to memorize everything they have learned from the
previous day. After 7 hours, the

Illiteate Society And Malcolm X's Literacy Behind Bars
In Jonathan Kozol's "The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society" and Malcolm X's "Literacy Behind
Bars" they both talk about the advantages of being literate, as well as the hardships that those who
are illiterate goes through. Using these articles, we can see that it's important to be as literate as
possible because, a literate person would be more confidant in interacting with others, they're less
likely to be cheated, they don't have to rely on others, and ultimately their world view is much
bigger. Interacting with others is something that many people take for granted. Humans are proud
beings, no one wants to look or feel stupid, or below others. An illiterate person is highly likely to
go through life hiding the fact that they are illiterate, because of this, they may have trouble holding
conversations with others, or will refrain from asking questions opting to feign comprehension. The
more literate one is the less likely this issue will arise in their day to day life. By being literate, one
has more information to give, as well as more ways to express this information, while also having
the capacity understand and take in even more information, while the illiterate is left to envy such an
ability. Malcolm X illustrates this point when he states "Bimbi had always taken charge of any
conversation he was in, and I had tried to emulate him. But every book I picked up had few
sentences which didn't contain anywhere from one to nearly all the words might as well have been
Chinese." (1) Back when Malcolm was illiterate he could only watch with envy as another easily
took control of the conversations they participated in, and in an attempt to better himself in order to
do the same, he couldn't understand the books he tried to read. Of course Malcolm X was able to
train himself to read those books, but not everyone is able to do what he did, which is why it's better
to become as literate as possible from a young age, in order to be able to take control of
conversations and never feel inferior to others while conversing. While the illiterate tries to hide
their illiteracy, they have no choice but to let some people in on their secret, be it friends, they're
children, or other family members some other person has to

Poverty In Education
Jazmyn Bogany
Professor Craig Slaven
English 1302–216
5 October 2017
Poverty in Education: Economic Gap
Two children stand in line to enter their classroom. The children are the same age, but are different
in mindset. One child faces poverty, while the other is unaware about financial hardship. The quality
of education is determined by the size of the parent's pocket book. Education standards are quickly
declining in poverty ridden areas. Funding is provided to the districts whose test scores meet the
requirement. Economic gaps in education are detrimental to academic settings, create distorting
disadvantages and an attendance barrier regarding health.
Poverty can extensively affect a child's ability to learn. They are not able to retain information
because of the outside worries. A child should fret about being the first to the monkey bars, passing
an exam or their school dance, not home issues. Nevertheless, money is not a guaranteed stress
reliever either. Children with economic advantages struggle with the pressure of satisfying their
parents with stellar grades and behavior. According to Gary W. Evans, "This toxic stress directly
hinders ... children's academic performance by compromising their ability to develop the kinds of
skills necessary to perform well in school". The child is now put in a position of uncertainty.
Although it can be stressful, there are benefits. The child can either be successful in academics, learn
responsibility and independency at an early age.

Fishing for Words Essay
Fishing for Words
"Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; you have fed him for a
lifetime" (http://www.amatecon.com/fish.html). This quote can be applied to illiteracy in America;
basically someone illiterate cannot live on their own until they have been taught the basics, reading
and writing. According to Kozol's essay The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society the government,
administration, and people of high power live by the beginning of the quote (Kozol, The Human
Cost of an Illiterate Society). They help someone illiterate make a living until the person is out of
their control. Yet the government, administrations, and society maintain control through illiteracy.
Illiteracy is spreading like a plague ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Let us say that a little first grade boy is a hyperactive in class and the school's administration decides
to test the boy for either ADD or ADHD, with parental consent of course. After testing the child is
deemed to be ADD and has to be placed into a classroom where he cannot be a distraction. Can you
imagine being placed into a remedial class for being hyper on day of the year? So now the boy is
learning at a slower pace than his friends are and by the time he reaches fifth grade the
administration decides to retest him. They discover that instead of reading at the fifth grade level he
is reading at the entry level to third grade, so now the boy is classified as mentally retarded because
of the class he was placed into. When to boy reaches high school he is more likely to drop out than
his friends from first grade. The seniority that the administration holds over a child's life is pitiful.
These people are there to provide a positive learning environment yet they ruin a person's life at an
early age. It needs to be pointed out that these administrations entitle a child as illiterate when the
child has not had the chance to learn the basics in school.
To live the American Dream is the motivation for many immigrants to choose to live in the United
States of America. As they arrive their hopes and dreams are shattered. Our society immediately

Juan Miguel Luz A Nation Of Nonreaders Analysis
In Juan Miguel Luz's article, "A Nation of Nonreaders" he gives light to fact that the Philippines's
high literacy does not actually reflect the literacy, reading, and learning skills of Filipinos. He states
that, as a nation, the Philippines is considered a highly literate country, however this brings up the
question of why there are plenty Filipinos who lack good reading habits and some are even illiterate.
Luz also believes that the low literacy of Filipinos would lead to poor reading skills and in turn,
poor learning skills since most core subject require good literacy. It is also clear in his article that he
believes that, "...the problem of nonreading lies at the heart of why the Philippines is so
uncompetitive in the world economy and why so many of our people continue to live in poverty or
barely escape it" (Luz). With the problem of poor literacy in the Philippines, Luz gives his readers a
sense of hope by discussing the programs, which seeks to improve literacy among Filipinos. The
programs mentioned include, Model of Excellence Schools, ESKAN, and Library Hubs. ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He was able to make his arguments logical. He also ensured credibility by using various reliable
sources as well as his own credibility. He, however, lacks appeal of emotion to the readers. Luz's
article in my own opinion is very good especially with the its content and reliability however the
problem I have with his article, lies with the idea that programs are the solution to the lack of
literacy in the Philippines. The literacy rate in the Philippines has gotten lower in the past but since
2003 there has been an increase in literacy in the most part of the present due to the numerous
programs. However there is still a need for reformation in the Philippine education system in order
to produce globally competitive

The Economic And Social Cost Of Illiteracy
The World Literacy Foundation released a report on illiteracy in 2012 sharing this devastating news,
"Shockingly, more than 796 million people in the world cannot read or write. About 67 million
children do not have access to a primary school education and another 72 million miss out on
secondary school education" (Melbourne, "The Economic & Social Cost of Illiteracy"). Complete
illiteracy is defined as, "a person who cannot read or write at all" (Melbourne, "The Economic &
Social Cost of Illiteracy"). However, there is another kind of illiteracy. This illiteracy is commonly
known as functional illiteracy. Function illiteracy, "means an individual may have basic reading,
writing and numerical skills but cannot apply them to accomplish tasks that are necessary to make
informed choices and participate fully in everyday life" (Melbourne, "The Economic & Social Cost
of Illiteracy"). Illiteracy brings multiple negative effects to an individual and his or her family. The
effects of illiteracy include: life threatening health issues, lower incomes and inability to succeed in
his or her career, and it increases crime rates. First, illiteracy carries life threatening health issues. If
someone is illiterate, he or she will be unable to comprehend medical records and assessments.
Thus, never fully understanding their diagnosis, or their treatment plan options. Erin N. Marcus,
M.D. writes, "There is also a growing body of research on health literacy, the ability to comprehend
and use

National Assessment Of Adult Literacy
Illiteracy can be easily defined as not having the skill or the ability to read this sentence. Every year,
more children grow up without the ability to read. This results in students dropping out of high
school. Literacy is vital element to education and illiteracy can greatly affect an individual. The
National Assessment of Adult Literacy states that literacy is "using printed and written information
to function in society, to achieve one's goals, and to develop one's knowledge and potential"
("Literacy Surveys"). Without the ability to read, an individual cannot achieve any of their goals or
rise to meet their potential. People are looking to the government for funding to resolve the literacy
issue. Government funding and the development of new programs can substantially decrease the
amount of illiterate American citizens. Yet, more needs to be done to improve literacy rates across
the country.
There are many factors that could be causing the drop of literacy in the United States. Poverty is one
of the largest causes of illiteracy today (Nayak). Students and families living in poverty are more
likely to be illiterate than students and families living with strong financial standings. Families
dealing with tough financial situations are often more focused on providing food and shelter for
their children rather than sending them to school (Nayak). Therefore, these children are not being
encouraged to obtain an education. Little to no education for a young child can

The Human Cost Of An Illiterate Society
Are illiterates just people who exist? Do they just walk around aimlessly, never knowing what to
do? "Illiterates live, in more than literal ways, an uninsured existence," says Jonathan Kozol. In
Kozol's article, "The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society," he intensely describes how illiteracy can
impact both the illiterate and those surrounding him. There is a tragic human cost for an illiterate
society. If people are unable to read, then what can they do? In this case, the least taken–for–granted
tasks in a literate's life could suddenly become the difference between life and death for someone
who cannot read. They are lost in this world, "half citizens" whose "rights exist in print but not in
fact," Kozol describes them. Illiteracy leads to a void in certain areas of life; illiterates are not living,
just existing. Scariest of all is that illiteracy is creating a population of "half citizens," which
consequently results in many tragic human costs.
More than most would imagine, illiteracy is a phenomenal crisis throughout the world. Today, there
are approximately 800 million illiterates in the world. Ninety–three million of those are Americans
who have basic or below basic literacy. Thirty million of the 93,000,000 are functionally illiterate.
The other 63,000,000 read at a fifth to an eighth grade level and cannot understand a basic
newspaper. According to Literacy Partners, a foundation which helps low–income parents with
limited English proficiency transfer literacy

The Negative Effects Of Adult Illiteracy
Adult illiteracy has been an issue for many years and mostly every societal issue is due to low
literacy. Adult illiteracy would be described as the inability "to use printed and written information
to function in society, to achieve one's goals and to develop one's knowledge and potential" (Adult
Illiteracy,n.d., para. 2). Many individuals suffer from not having the basic skills that are needed to be
successful throughout life which leads them to depend on welfare and other government assistance
due to not having the skills to acquire a higher education and a better paying job. Low literacy
affects health and economic growth, it affects everyone tremendously and it is a major issue that has
increasingly negative effects on society. Adult illiteracy is a societal issue that causes poor health
decisions, poverty, and unemployment. Creating more programs and providing more learning
resources will create a positive ethical outcome by reducing the number of illiterate adults in society.
Problem
Adult illiteracy allows individuals to live a meaningful life. It enhances their living standards and
quality of life. Without the necessary literacy skills needed to enjoy the benefits of life one may not
live their life to the fullest. "Education helps in improving and enhancing standards of living and
quality of life which is actually the improvement of social life. While, illiterates neither get enough
chances to lead a better life nor enjoy facilities of a quality life due to their

The Importance Of Education In Education
The essence of being well educated is foremost the biggest issue in this world today in order to
succeed as much as you can in society. "The difficulty understanding societal issues lowers the level
of community involvement and civic participation" (Green, & Riddell, 2007). In a household
worrying about the economic adversity is big when it comes to one being illiterate, particularly
when that person is the main supplier. One cause is generational spread of literacy. What this is
saying is, "Children have a higher chance of being illiterate if brought up in a household of parents
who are as well illiterate." These families usually don't have a greater supply of materials in the
home related to school, because it isn't something important to the family. These are the parents who
feel that their children can make it just the same way as they did without the proper education.
Parents cannot educate the children, due to not knowing what to teach them because they didn't get
any schooling. Maybe these same people didn't get any teaching from their own parents. Being in
the education field myself, I know that we as parents should be our child's first teacher. Growing up
with parents who are educated, shows children how to succeed in this world. These are the same
people who when they get older in age isn't able to read properly their prescriptions. "As consumers,
adults with low literacy struggle to obtain health services, buy groceries, take medications, and pay
bills, among

Persuasive Essay On Adult Literacy
Adult literacy lies at the heart of many social crises in the United States, including crime,
unemployment, and poverty. According to the Pro Literacy Organization, it has been estimated that
as many as fourteen percent of US adults over the age of sixteen read at or below a fifth grade level.
Among those segments of the US population with lower literacy rates, almost half live in poverty.
Over ninety million American adults, are illiterate, which means they do not possess the skills
required to function in today's modern society. Facts such as this regarding literacy illustrate a
portrait of the social conditions that exist in America, the country generally portrayed as the most
advanced in the world. Out of 191 million adults in the US, as many as 44 million cannot read a
newspaper or fill out a job application; another 50 million are unable to read or comprehend above
the eighth grade level. According to education experts it requires ninth grade competence to
understand the instructions for an antidote on a bottle of corrosive kitchen lye, tenth grade
competence to understand the instructions on a federal income tax return, and twelfth grade
competence to read a life insurance form. Unfortunately, more than three fifths of the population is
unable to read with the competence of a fifth grader. Steps to resolve this problem must be taken
immediately. Educational improvements need to be made at the most basic level, in the country's
elementary schools. It has been

The Impact Of Technology On Adult Literacy
Introduction
The way technology has impacted adult literacy has changed the way adults and learning to read and
write. Technology has granted tools that have made new ways to learn possible helping lower adult
literacy. Tools such as commenting tools, virtual meeting tools, speech to text, text to speech, and
low–level coaching tools in electronic texts improve the way people learn and communicate with
others beyond the classroom. This problem effects millions of people making it highly important to
the betterment of the world. Around 13.8% of the world's population age 15 and over is illiterate.
There are around 358 million adults in the world who are illiterate three quarters of which come
from South Asia and sub–Saharan Africa.
Statement of Problem
It is important to see if it is a worthwhile method to use technology in literacy education by itself, in
combination with classroom learning, or not at all. Millions of adults around the world are illiterate
hindering their chances of finding a job and living in everyday life making the need for resources to
help them overcome it necessary. Before advanced technology came out the only viable way to
teach writing and reading to adults was in classrooms. Today there are more tools available that can
enhance an adult's ability to learn to read and write. The parts of the world that have the highest
illiteracy are South Asia and sub–Saharan Africa places with little advanced technology making it
harder to use it for learning.

The Education Gap : Poverty In Education : Economic Gap
Poverty in Education: Economic Gap
Two children stand in line to enter their classroom. The children are the same age, but different in
mindset. One child faces poverty, while the other is unaware about financial hardship. The quality of
education is determined by the size of the parent's pocket book. Education standards are quickly
declining in poverty ridden areas. Funding is provided to the districts whose test scores meet the
requirement. Economic gaps in education are detrimental to academic settings, create distorting
disadvantages and harmful to health.
Poverty can extensively affect a child's ability to learn. They are not able to retain information
because of the outside worries. A child should fret about being the first to the monkey bars, passing
an exam or their school dance, not home issues. According to Gary W. Evans, "This toxic stress
directly hinders poor children's academic performance by compromising their ability to develop the
kinds of skills necessary to perform well in school". When a family is barely surviving they will put
stress on a child to either become successful or force the child into work. The child is now put in a
position of uncertainty. Although it can be selfish and stressful, there are benefits. The child can
either be successful in academics or learn responsibility and independency at an early age. Author of
Poverty Matters, Peter Dewitt, expressed similar ideas by stating, "Many children who come from
impoverished homes have a serious

The Human Cost Of An Illiterate Society Summary
The lack of knowledge deprives many individuals, from the essence of a better quality of life. "The
Human Cost of an Illiterate Society", written by Jonathan Kozol, who is an American writer and
educator; discusses the negative effects that society has brought upon illiterate people.
Unfortunately, the majority of illiterate individuals suffer from poverty, and are raised in households
where their parents could not read or write. In this case, they are subjected to grow in an
environment that is deficient of educational skills. The terrible outcome of this, is that the cycle of
illiteracy continues to pass on from generation to generation. Therefore, obtaining a college
education can; undoubtedly, help an individual fight the "form of subjugation". ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
In my personal experience, enrolling in college has helped me break the barrier of "not knowing".
Prior to attending college, I was a stay home mom and house wife taking care of my children and
house. This is not necessarily a negative thing, but I was missing out on education. One day, I
thought to myself, what will my children think of me when they grow up, and ask me if I attend
college? How can I in the future expect for them to get an education, if I haven't provided that
example for them? That is when I knew, things had to change. "I had to be that change". Ever since,
I captured that dream, I have become much wiser in knowledge. Without a doubt, I will grasp onto
this dream; until I reach my

Obama And Illiteracy Essay
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

The Power Of Literacy
"It is not enough to simply teach children to read; we have to give them something worth reading.
Something that will stretch their imaginations–something that will help them make sense of their
own lives and encourage them to reach out toward people whose lives are quite different from their
own." – Katherine Patterson. Literacy is a right. It is implicit in the right to education. It is
recognized as a right, explicitly for both children and adults, in certain international conventions.
Literacy is the ability to read and write, and also refers to having enough reading and writing ability
to function in society. People who cannot read and write are called illiterate. People are called
functionally illiterate if they cannot read or write well enough to do activities that are common in
social settings they encounter. Such activities may include employment, schoolwork, voting, or
worship. The power of literacy is something that can change the world. How far has literacy come
since the beginning and what is its history; what are the causes of a lower literacy rate; what effects
can lower literacy rates have; what about higher rates; what are some ways to improve the literacy
rates and; what are some of the benefits to a higher literacy rate?
Literacy has a long and detailed history. "The earliest examples of pictorial written communication
date back to 3500 B.C. (Piechota). In the centuries after the invention of written communication,
only a small part of human society

The Rights Of A Regular Classroom 4 Of The 28 Kids
The Right to Read According to studies done by the U.S. Education Department, 1 in 7 Americans
are illiterate. That means in a regular classroom 4 of the 28 kids cannot read or recognize most
written words. With the plague of illiteracy, these children grow up hiding their disability and trying
desperately to just pass by. When they graduate high school, or at least hit 17 years old, they stop
their education and begin searching for jobs to support their families since all members are most
likely illiterate as well. However, the jobs they get are menial and the pay is too. They grow up and
continue the illiteracy cycle, forcing their children to have the same plague. The literacy rate
consequently continues to drop, as fear keeps ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
can 't read. That 's 14 percent of the [adult] population" (huffingtonpost.com). This is certainly
unacceptable in a dominant nation such as America. With 14% of the population plagued with
illiteracy, the whole nation is impacted. Since the people are unable to read, the information they get
about candidates comes from the news or what others tell them. This subjects them to bias and the
inability to form a firm untainted opinion on who could best lead the nation, therefore many people
refuse to vote. While some would argue that 14% isn't a majority of the citizens and therefore
shouldn't be a big priority this is certainly not the case. The Washington post goes as far as to say
only "a meager 36 percent of eligible voters cast ballots" every election. That means 64% don't and
14% of that could be related to the many illiterates in the country. Voter turnout is a huge problem,
since so many don't vote, the best or most qualified person doesn't always get the position, and
consequently the nation suffers. We are no longer number one in the world, we are not even number
one in literacy in fact, "we're seventh in literacy" behind Greenland, Russia, and Canada, to name a
few (Leopold 1). To make America truly great again, the aim of any real politician, literacy is a vital
problem that needs solving, for not only does the voter turnout drop, but so does the economy. The
American economy used to be number one in the world, however it has

Assess The Importance Of Literacy In Nursing
Nursing Considerations for Education: Literacy, Methods and Materials
Since nurses provide most of the health information that patients receive, they must be aware of the
factors that influence communication and interpretation. Removing barriers and facilitating learning
are tasks that nurses accept as they seek to improve the quality of care to patients. In this week's
reading, we learned about the aspects of health literacy, instructional methods, and educational
materials. These are three elements that nurses must take into account when presenting health
information, and for this post, I will discuss these factors and describe how understanding and
integrating them into my clinical teaching skills will improve my care delivery.
Health Literacy
The ability to obtain, comprehend, process, and communicate health information in an effort to
make health decisions is the definition of health literacy. The literacy rate in the United States is
staggering. Fifty percent of adults cannot read at an eighth–grade level (Literacy Project, 2017).
Nurses may not be aware of the enormity of this problem because, more than likely, their social
contacts consist of friends and family who are educated. In today's climate of managed care,
illiteracy can have devastating effects, because patients have a greater responsibility for ... Show
Because of the uniqueness of each learner, and the characteristics that they possess, there is not one
perfect method for instruction. In fact, using multiple approaches to teaching material can increase
retention rates. The nurse should evaluate the learner for learning style, objectives, cost, setting,
technology, and their own expertise. Some of the methods available to the nurse are lecturing, group
discussion, one–on–one instruction, demonstration/return demonstration, simulation, role–playing
and role

The Human Cost Of An Illiterate Society By Jonathan Kozol
Imagine not being able to read this essay. Many Americans do not posses the ability to do what you
just did. In Jonathan Kozol's essay titled, "The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society," he exposes the
complications of being illiterate as well as how it affects a person on a social, personal, and financial
level. He brings to light the troubles illiterates go through right from the beginning, and takes
repeated stabs at the way they function, and how it brings extreme troubles. Kozol effectively
educates and exploits the overlooked troubles of being illiterate, by providing examples of their
embarrassment, using repetition emphasizing on their limitations, and making assertions to explain
how they survive. Kozol strongly believes being illiterate comes with embarrassment, and he backs
up his point with actual examples of people who have gone through this experience. Kozol writes,
"Donny wanted me to read a book to him. I told Donny: 'I can't read.' He said: 'Mommy, you sit
down. I'll read it to you" (4). Parents are supposed to read to their children. However, due to the
mother's illiteracy, she is unable to read to her child. Instead, it is backwards in which her son is
forced to read to his mother. This leads to her experience of being embarrassed. At this point she
feels as though she is not able to perform the simple duties of a mother, and is therefore unable to
fulfill her son wishes. Kozol then includes a story of a man who was stuck on the street and calls
911 for an

The Human Cost Of An Illiterate Society By Jonathan Kozol
Statistically, based on reports from 2003, 99% of the total population ages 15 and over can read and
write (CIA Library). Thus, one can conclude illiteracy is not a crisis. However, "The Human Cost of
an Illiterate Society" by Jonathan Kozol, implies something different. Kozol emphasizes the
hardship of an illiterate, and briefly explains the importance of helping an illiterate without
providing much of a solution, while Kozol's essay was ineffective overall because of the lack of
factual evidence and flawed conclusions, his strategic use of tone, repetition and rhetorical
questioning provided some strength to his argument. By establishing a sympathetic tone, Kozol
effectively appeals our emotions, which provides slight strength to his argument. For example,
Kozol explains his dream he experienced where he was in the Soviet, "Then I remember that my
card was confiscated for some reason, many years before. Around this point, I wake up in a panic"
(2). Kozol's tone illustrates how helpless the illiterates are and wants to appeal to our emotion of
sympathy as he draws comparison to the same troubles and emotions he experienced in his dream as
illiterates experience daily. That emotional impact provided some strength to his argument because it
allows us to imagine an experience, which may be unfamiliar. Kozol insinuates that illiterates match
logos printed on packages to distinguish the differences amongst food. Kozol points out, "The
purchaser who cannot read and does not dare

Jonathan Kozol The Human Cost Of An Illiterate Society...
Envision being limited in a world full of opportunities and advantages due to illiteracy. In this
society, it is unfortunate that there are individuals who are illiterate, which ultimately affects their
democratic lives. Many other citizens do not face this issue, and may not recognize the
disadvantages that illiterates face. In Jonathan Kozol's text, "The Human Cost of an Illiterate
Society," he discusses the various issues concerned with illiteracy, one of them being how it affects
democracy. Democracy is a type of government where power, that involves human rights and
values, is held by the people. According to Kozol's text, illiteracy undermines democracy in the
United States because people are oblivious of their right to equality, ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Kozol argues that, "The number of illiterate adults exceeds by 16 million the entire vote cast for the
winner in the 1980 presidential contest. Even if one third of all illiterates could vote in their self–
interest, Ronald Reagan would not likely have been chosen president"(Kozol 149). When illiterate
people choose a political figure to represent their views they do not know they are affecting
themselves, as well as everyone else in the united states. Their vote impacts the United States
because it determines who will make the important decisions, and create new policies. To be
represented in what goes on in the surrounding community is a crucial aspect in democracy for
illiterate people.
Kozol explains that as an illiterate, the right to equality is likely to be violated, even if the
Declaration of Independence states that all men are equal. Many illiterates face struggles with
inequality, including an illiterate student who explains that, "I came out of school. I was sixteen.
They had their meetings. The directors meet. They said that I was wasting their school paper. I was
wasting pencils" (Kozol 155). A school's purpose is to assist their students to learn, and to become
knowledgeable. Rather, they shun those without literacy, and make them feel inferior and
undeserving. This shows that illiterates are not given chances to improve and

The Human Cost Of An Illiterate Society Summary
Summary and Response of "The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society" Summary: In the essay "The
Human Cost of an Illiterate Society" written by Jonathan Kozol, published in Reading for writers in
New York, 2013. The author raises awareness to the effect illiteracy has on society by using
dramatized real world situations to better convey his message. Mr.Kozol also supports his argument
with statistics to demonstrate how illiteracy can have an impact that extends further than just one
individual. Presenting us with data from the 1980 presidential election, Mr.Kozol argues that had the
illiterate population been better informed it is likely that the outcome would have been different.
Response: Jonathan Kozol raises awareness to the impact illiteracy

Access To Education In Sub-Saharan Africa
Access To Education
By: Habib
The problem that I am complaining and working to establish an awareness is access to education.
Today, more than 72 million children around the world remain illiterate (humanium). 32 million of
the 72 million are from Sub–Saharan Africa. Eastern and Central Asia along with the Pacific are also
affected. Girls have the least access to education. They make up more than 54% of the uneducated
population in the world read in (humanium). In Sub–Saharan Africa, over 12 million girls are a
possibility not obtaining an education. Not having access to the school was a thing since education
was a thing. Where I used to live (Afghanistan) when the Taliban took over Kabul (capital city) in
1996, they didn't allow children ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Firstly, some human barriers are in countries that are in a war and school fees. For example, the civil
war, there were more than 3,600 incidents recorded last year, more than 70% occurred in Syria. The
reports were about incidents of children recruited by armed groups, being stopped from accessing
education, physically attacked for trying to go to school or having their school bombed. In most
developing countries school fees are not affordable to a lot of families. While in developed countries
that education is free, almost every kid complains of why they have to go school but they don't
realize that other kids around the world would love to take their spots. Secondly, geographical and
environmental barriers are mountainous areas. Mountainous areas because it makes it hard for
children to reach classrooms. Natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and landslides
exacerbate the situation for all children. These environmental and geographical barriers raise parent
concerns about their child's safety and that can prevent them from sending their children to school.
Therefore, there are a lot of barriers to the lack of education which can make receiving education
hard. In the next paragraph, it will show you show solutions to these

The Value Of Movies In Movies And Film Education
"Your movies are shit", said to me, the first–year, senior, film major at the best arts boarding school
in country. I have tirelessly made film after film since the age of eight, eventually wanting to reach
even higher with my film education. Having been given the privilege to actually study film in a
classroom setting, I was ecstatic. After being told my whole life how talented I am, after getting into
the best high school film program in the country, my ego was shattered when my stone–faced
roommate didn't even make eye contact while mumbling "Your movies just aren't good." I would
consider myself literate. I've been through 1st grade being an avid reader along the way so my
understanding of English is quite decent. Although the concept of being literate is not that simple.
Take someone with a masters degree in English and drop them in some African village, their literacy
will mean nothing. Literacy is based on surroundings. Though to be literate is not only to be
proficient in reading and writing. One can be literate in math, science, history, art, or in my case...
film.
My roommate was a year and a half younger than me and he had the nerve to tell me I was no good.
It was the age difference that struck me. I was on such a high pedestal that I failed to notice his quite
apparent talent. "Your movies are shit" was the best advice I could receive from someone like him at
the time. I've never been told that before! Although due to my arrogance I took his comments with a
grain

The Importance Of Literacy In Education
As a part of the special American dream of "equal opportunity," education plays a significant role in
seeking to close the gaps in local communities between people in different socioeconomic
circumstances. America has shown to be one of the top countries in the world but is undermined by
the decline of literacy among citizens. According to a 2016 recent study conducted by the U.S.
Department of Education, 32 million of American adults are illiterate, 21 percent read below a 5th
grade level, and 19 percent of high school graduates are functionally illiterate. Functional illiteracy
is the inability to manage daily living and tasks that requires reading skills beyond the basic level. A
person who is functionally illiterate will affect their life and provide them with less career
opportunities. As a result, illiteracy affects the larger population as a whole. It correlates with
underemployment, poverty, crime, and substandard health and nutrition. Considered the greatest
threat to education, poverty directly impacts the educational experience for both students and
teachers. For such problem to be solved, there must be an effort to promote literacy. An approach
could be exposing children to reading and reaching out to parents to read and engage with their
children. Teaching children to read isn't expensive. There just needs to be a family and community
effort to get illiterate parents to adult literacy classes and to read and engage with children. Local
schools and libraries

Total Illiteracy In The United States
Introduction Over 14% of the United States population is classified as illiterate, ranging from total
illiteracy to functional illiteracy (United States Department of Education, 2013). Total illiteracy
refers to the inability to effectively function in society by failure to use reading, writing, and
calculation (United Nations, 2012) whereas functional illiteracy is defined as the ability to read
between a fourth–grade and sixth–grade level, to use printed and written information to function in
society, to achieve one's goals, and to develop one's knowledge and potential (Ahmed, 2011;
National Assessment of Adult Literacy, 2011). The annual economic cost of illiteracy in the United
States is approximately 240 billion dollars (United States ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Learning to read is a complex process that involves phonics, decoding, morphology, fluency, and
comprehension (U.S. Department of Education, 2013). Children, who are exposed to language in the
form of oral language, phonological awareness, and print knowledge within their home environment
prior to entering kindergarten, are significantly less likely to struggle to read than peers, who lacked
such language exposure (Farver, Xu, Lonigan, & Eppe, 2013). Therefore, children experientially
acquire a basic literacy foundation at home prior to entering school. Even without such literacy
experiences at home, one of the most important predictors of long–term school success is early
literacy instruction in prekindergarten and kindergarten (Justice, Kaderavek, Fan, Sofka, & Hunt,
2009; Lonigan, Farver, Phillips, & Clancy–Menchetti, 2011; Vellutino, Scanlon, Zhang, &
Schatschneider, 2008). Early reading instruction that includes print knowledge, phonological
awareness, and phonics has been shown to be necessary for establishing foundational skills in
subsequent reading acquisition (Bingham, & Patton–Terry, 2013). Since a solid foundation in
reading leads to future reading success, identifying and addressing reading difficulties during the
primary grades (i.e. kindergarten, first, and second grades) is a high priority for school personnel

The Human Cost Of An Illiterate Society Rhetorical Analysis
Dylan Wheeler Dr. Woo English 162 6 June 2015 Writer Jonathan Kozol, in the essay "The Human
Cost of an Illiterate Society," suggests that the alarming rates of illiteracy in the U.S. are corroding
the fundamentals of democracy, reinforcing the structures of inequality that created the problem to
begin with. His argument draws on a range of evidence and support from multiple sources such as
philosophers and historical figures, anecdotes, and first–person accounts. Kozol's purpose is to not
simply illustrate the various personal tragedies that people with underdeveloped reading skills face,
but to tell his audience that such tragedies when you add them up constitute a threat to the basic
values that maintain the nation as a whole. Kozol

Essay on Jonathan Kozol The Human Cost Of An Illiterate...
Knowledge is an effective factor in which human society relies on. Throughout history, those who
were knowledgeable were well–respected, honored and revered. Author Jonathan Kozol writes his
essay, "The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society," to project the importance of knowledge and to
explain that without it, one can suffer disastrous repercussions. He highlights real–life examples of
how people suffer as a result of chronic illiteracy, and his entire essay is an advocacy for knowledge
and literacy. Other authors such as Frederick Douglass and Richard Wright would use their personal
experiences in completely different settings to highlight the power of knowledge. Douglass, a man
born into slavery, and Wright, a man living through ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Knowledge has the ability to free Douglass from his social injustice. This realization foreshadows
Douglass' career in the future; as he is no longer enslaved. As history continues and times have
changed, the power of knowledge still remains the same. Jonathan Kozol is a man that expresses the
same belief as Douglass; that knowledge is rewarding. Although the times have changed; Kozol
acknowledges the debilitating effect that comes when one is not knowledgeable. Kozol makes this
evident in his novel as he states that "Not knowing the right word for the right thing at the right time
is a form of subjugation" (165). According to Kozol, knowledge determines the way society views
an individual. An illiterate person will struggle in a coerced society. Therefore, the author informs
the audience the blessing it is to have knowledge because they will be set free from being socially
enslaved. As a result, the significance of knowledge and its blessings grants freedom against social
injustice. Douglass and Wright both experience similar reactions to their newly gained knowledge.
After finding access to a library, Wright begins to read and learn more about different perspectives
and the way others think. He eventually realizes, through his readings, that he is hurt by what he
learns as is evident in quotation "But to feel that there were feelings denied me, that the very breath
of life itself was beyond my reach, that more than anything hurt, wounded me,"

Literacy Is A Common Problem Around The World Essay
The average college student is expected to read pages and pages of material from various textbooks
in order to gain new knowledge about their selected major. Many adults and children around the
world cannot read one sentence, much less pages and pages of comprehensive subject matter. The
inability to read and write, known as illiteracy, is a common problem around the world, especially in
developing countries, and has many unfortunate consequences.
Literacy plays a major role in the world, impacting various aspects of society, politics, and the world
economy, not to mention individual lives. Literacy provides personal security by giving an
individual the means to educate themselves. When a person learns how to read, they gain access to
the world's knowledge. Literacy provides financial security, because someone who can read and
write is more likely to get a higher–paying job, and more likely to get a job at all. The ability to read
and write leads to a higher ability of thinking critically and forming opinions, allowing someone to
better participate in politics. Illiteracy has been linked to crime, most likely because illiterate people
live in poverty and must turn to a life of crime in order to survive.
Literacy has a positive impact on the world economy. When people are educated, they can find
better jobs in wealthier industries. Education leads to more knowledge of advanced technology, so
countries with higher literacy rates are able to produce more advanced

Cell Phones And Its Effects On Our Lives
In a society where we are surrounded by the convenience of modern technology, it can be a
challenge not getting caught up in the convenience of things. If you think about the world twenty
years ago, a cell phones only purpose was to make calls and getting in contact with people on the go
a much simpler task. Now, it is basically a mini–computer with access to almost anything you could
possibly want. But is that ease actually becoming a hindrance in our everyday lives? Despite the fact
that the United States is one of the most prosperous and developed nations in the world, studies
show that twenty–one percent of American adults cannot read anything above a fifth–grade level,
and this rate of illiterate citizens is steadily increasing. Another study found that for every ten
households in the United States, six will not even bother to buy one book in a year. What a lot of
people don 't realize is that these low literacy rates are the source of so much more than social issues
and mild concern over what our once seemingly perfect and indestructible nation is coming to.
The impact current literacy rates had on our economy was nearly astounding. Secretary Arne
Duncan made a public announcement stating that a high quality education is absolutely critical to
the reconstruction` of our economy. With that being said, government intervention began to take
place and the federal budget for Fiscal Year 2013 was created. The education part of the budget
included an extensive game plan for

The Importance Of Reading And Writing
There are many important skills that students must learn in school. One important skill would be
how to read and write and the other would be how to think critically. These two skills are very
important in different ways. However, they are both important skills that will help individuals
throughout different times in their lives. The skill of reading and writing can open a door into a new
world, a world filled with words. Critical thinking can help with having to make life changing
decisions or it can help find a solution to a difficult issue. The skills reading and writing and critical
thinking are all important skills in their own way, and they are both important during many aspects
of life. The word illiterate can be described by not having the ability to read or write properly. There
are many people in the United States alone that are illiterate, and it is a problem across the world.
Adult illiteracy is something most people do not think about. It tends to be something that is pushed
under the rug and forgotten. However, 14% of adults in the United States read below the basic
reading level. That means, in 2017, there are 32 million people that are reading below the basic
reading level (Illiteracy Statistics). Illiteracy is not something that is common in just southern states
such as Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, or Mississippi. It can be found in just about any state, and
it may be closer to you than you think. In 2008, one in five adults in Indianapolis were

Illiteracy In America
Illiteracy is defined as the state of not being able to read, write or have knowledge of a specific
subject. This research paper will discuss and pinpoint direct reasons as to why the rates of teenage
illiteracy in America has risen throughout the years. There will be ideas of how our educators,
family and friends can and has helped to prevent this from affecting upcoming generations . This
specific issue has also led to raise other rates such as; high school dropouts and juveniles criminal
cases. "After third grade, reading is less of a subject and more of a tool, as students begin reading
for content." Within your first 4 years, usually kindergarten to third grade, your main focuses are the
development of reading, writing and pronunciation skills. After your skills are developed to the
current grade level(3rd–4th grade) they're continuously tested rather than both practiced and tested.
This is when the assumptions are made that most students can't read fluently by the fourth or fifth
grade. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Once the pressure is on they'll eventually give up, which will lead into failing or dropping out of
school. Signs of dropping out of school due to illiteracy can be found within a sixth grade student.
Statistics show that every 1 in 4 children will transform into an adult without knowing how to read.
NAEP statistics from 2002 show that 25 percent of nationwide eighth graders are below basic
reading levels. As current NAEP statistics shoe less than one third eighth graders meet NAEP
requirements and 2 percent are advanced reader according to the U.S. Department of

Essay on Challenges Facing America
Challenges Facing America
One of the most important responsibilities of our nation is to protect and serve its citizens. As the
new millennium begins, our nation must overcome many challenges that affect this responsibility.
Three of the most important are terrorism, illiteracy, and the lack of moral values.
Americans have considered terrorism as a horror that occurs in other countries and not as a real
threat to America itself. As the recent terrorist attacks on our nation shows, this opinion was gravely
incorrect. There are several policies in both the private sector and our government, which
contributed to our vulnerability to terrorism.
Most people assume that all luggage and passengers are closely screened before they are ... Show
Often foreign students never show up for school and roam freely through this country without
anyone's knowledge.
The best way to prevent terrorist attacks in the future is by the gathering of information about
terrorist schemes while they are in the planning process. The CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) is
the agency responsible for gathering this information. Since the Watergate scandal of the 1970's, it
has been hindered both in the planning of intelligence operations and in tactics used to gather the
intelligence. Intelligence operatives can never effectively help in the prevention of future attacks if
they do not have the leeway necessary to gather information about such attacks while the terrorists
are in the process of planning them.
In addition to terrorism, our nation must consider the problem of illiteracy. The right and freedoms
of an illiterate citizen are more limited than those of citizens who can read or write are.
Voting is a privilege and right that all Americans are entitled to, but an illiterate person cannot take
advantage of this right because of their inability to read. They cannot read newspapers or any other
material that would help them form an opinion on which candidate would best serve their interests.
Most rarely, go to the polls because they cannot read the ballot. Their voice continues to go unheard.
An illiterate person has few job

The Importance of Literacy Essay
Is it important to be a literate person in today's society? The ability to function well depends on
whether or not a person is literate and can comprehend what is going on around them. If a person
doesn't have the basic ability to read, they will feel the stress and dependency on others because of
their illiteracy. Illiteracy is a big problem because without the knowledge of reading, illiterate people
can't perform daily tasks and responsibilities in daily life. When all it would take is a mere two
minutes out of your day, don't you think illiteracy can be helped or even extinguished? In today's
society illiterate people are looked at as "half–citizens" (Kozol 190). They are dependent on literate
people to function daily. Think ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The problem is not only that illiterate people are dependent on others, it's also that the literate, well–
functioning people of society aren't always willing to put forth help. Help may only take a few
minutes out of someone's day, and to them be no big deal. For an illiterate person, those few minutes
may be the defining of their lives. As an example, I will talk briefly about my cousin, born into a
broken home and forced to deal with illiteracy on a daily basis. Steven was brought up in a bad
neighborhood and raised by the streets. His family simply didn't care about anything other than how
they would afford their next bottle of booze or pack of cigarettes. Growing up, he was never told he
had to go to school; therefore, he only went on occasion. His lack of schooling in his younger years
took its toll on him by the time he hit high school. Living in a bad neighborhood and brought up by
gangs, Steven's life was in a bad condition.
After dropping out of high school in his sophomore year, Steven attempted to get a job, but without
a diploma or a license this was just close to impossible for him. In desperate need of a job, to
support his growing family, Steven took to the streets and made money the only way he knew how.
After several months, he was living the good life, until the day came that changed his life forever.
He ended up selling drugs to an undercover police officer and was sent to jail for three years.

Summary Of The Human Cost Of An Illiterate Society
Throughout life, we have experienced moments of helplessness that have left us feeling anguished
and defeated. It's only in these moments that we realize how crucial communication is. We are most
vulnerable when we are not understood or when we are unable to comprehend a given issue or
situation. Of course, for some, the feeling is short–term, but for illiterates it is a chronic sensation.
The tragic inability to read or write has become a crisis in our nation as millions of illiterate
Americans fall victim to their own insecurities and ignorance. Jonathan Kozol addresses these
concerns in "The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society", where he warns us about the dangers of
illiteracy when it coexists with democracy. The notion of an illiterate society is one that affects our
nation as a whole. With the alarming rate of illiterates across the nation, the incapability to read or
write may compromise our democracy. Because an illiterate society lacks the knowledge or
education required, they are highly dependent on others, susceptible to danger, and risk creating ill–
informed decisions that could be detrimental to democracy. It's difficult to imagine being one of the
millions of Americans who are incapable of reading or writing as we spend most of our lives doing
both. Whether it's reading the daily newspaper or successfully completing a job application, literacy
is essential to living a life with independence. Unfortunately, without the ability to communicate,
most illiterates

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