Taking a class on literacy has made me realize the total dismissal myself and so many of my peers have concerning our own literary achievements. I have never appreciated my literacy, always believing it to have been a given. I went to school, and when the time came in which I was expected to learn to read and write, I did. Though I had my own initial struggles concerning placement, I never experienced any major difficulties. I never thought about the difficulties involved in a life where literacy was not a given.
The LA Times recently issued an article, “From Illiterate to Role Model” posted Jan. 5, 2011 by Carla Rivera, about adult literacy and a man who learned to read and write at age 35. Jon Zickerfoose, who has dyslexia and ADHD, went through his early life “faking” his literacy. He slid by just barely passing high school to receive a diploma, had friends fill out job applications, carried cash instead of applying for a bank account, and took his driver’s test orally, instead of taking a written exam. I was both shocked, and slightly disturbed by these facts. How can someone pass a driver’s test when they can’t read road signs? I realize that most signs have colors and shapes that mark their meaning, but what about exit signs, amber alerts, and other signs that aren’t as symbolically clear?
Anyways, Zickerfoose decided that it was time to change when his son discovered his father’s readings, which were spontaneously made up to correspond to the pictures, did not match the text in his bedtime stories. A local library offered adult literacy classes and after 6 months Zickerfoose was able to read novels. He became the literacy director for the library and founded UNITY, United Neighbors Involving Today’s Youth, a nonprofit organization.
Rivera brings in some statistics of our countries literacy rates, stating that “an estimated 30 million American adults can’t read a newspaper or fill out a job application,” and that of this number only 5% receive help to become literate, as Zickerfoose did. Only 5%! The main reason is the negative stigma attached to illiteracy. Just as Zickerfoose postponed his literacy due to embarrassment, so do many fellow Americans who believe that a silent struggle is better than a public confession of failure. This saddens me and yet, I can’t blame them. I always assume people around me are literate, having so many opportunities in today’s world. After reading Frederick Douglass’s narrative, the opportunities are highlighted even further. If an individual really wants to become literate, they can. I realize that sometimes disabilities or other matters make the accomplishment quite a feat, but I honestly believe it is possible.
After reading this article, and the texts so far in the course, I have come to appreciate my literacy and the opportunities that result from it. It’s quite scary to imagine life without these skills and I hope that those who have failed to achieve literacy, for whatever reasons, will not be afraid to ask for help. For there is so much to gain, and little to nothing to lose.
Rivera's article: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-illiterate-20110106,0,569231,full.story
1 comment:
I agree that literacy is something that I have taken for granted. I think that this can be said by a lot of people in our generation because going to school and learning to read is just such a common part of our society.
Also, I think it's absolutely crazy that people who are not illiterate can fake their literacy. We have talked about this in class a couple times and I still can't get over it. I think that it puts a lot of elements of the job market into question when companies might not know that they're hiring a worker who can't read (or even worse if they do know).
I have a lot of respect for any adult who goes out of their way to learn to read because they did not have the opportunity when they were younger. I will definitely try to keep my new-found appreciation in mind when all my class readings are piled high...
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