We frequently hear critics argue that U.S. students can’t write well and that there is a “literacy crisis” in the U.S. What is the origin of these discourses? What do they have to do with immigration, national security, and economics? How does the notion that Americans can’t write drive the national push to test writing? Here we explore the history of writing and testing in the U.S., the “science” and technology of testing approaches, and how the rhetoric of assessment impacts the lives of Americans today.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Literacy-just an "Indiviual good?"

Brandt's book, "Literacy in American Lives" gives me a new outlook on what literacy can be to different people. In an article we read prior to this there was a quote/idea that really stood out to me,
"In the old ideology, literacy was a value added. It was suppose to turn people into something. in the new ideology, literacy (like other human skills) figures as a cost of production. People are suppose to turn it into something." (Brandt U. S. Literacy)

So what are some thoughts about that passage? Do you think it's to better ourselves or for the benefit of someone else?

The value that we have on literacy changes from person to person. I think we are losing touch with what we learn and take away; we are too worried about how to advance for others. Literacy is now a means of production. . .what value is there left?
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1 comment:

Martin said...

Honestly, I'm kind of glad that our society puts so much importance on being literate. Without the strong connection between literacy and success in adulthood that our society, prospective English teachers (like myself) would have a hard time finding a job.

I think that everyone finds different meaning in literacy. Just because literacy has become a commodity and is no longer expressly connected to moral improvement, it doesn't mean that people are becoming morally devoid. Literacy has plenty of value. I think everyone who learns to read and write finds some value in it. After all, if we don't find value in doing something, we usually just don't do it.

April 14, 2011 at 1:37 AM

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