Aug
20
What if You Can’t Read?
August 20, 2008 |
Literacy is something I feel very strongly needs more attention across the globe. Knowledge is indeed power.
One of the best ways to gain that powerful knowledge is by reading, so what if you can’t read?
Well, Canada’s federal government is taking powerful step in the right direction.
According to UNESCO literacy rates in the US and Canada have steadily improved since the 1970s and expected to continue improving. In 1991 the United States created our National Institute for Literacy. In the 2000 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) Canada (and a myriad of other countries) outperformed the US every time in reading literacy, interpreting, retrieving, and reflecting on texts. Adult literacy rates though are pretty similar in both countries.
The fact that we need to measure it at all upsets me. I hope that all world governments continue to take this problem seriously and start stepping up even more. Illiteracy breeds more illiteracy, poverty, lower graduation rates, joblessness and homelessness, more pressure on public services, and homelessness. If you teach one other person to read in your entire life, imagine the incredible impact you could have on that one human being, their life, and by proxy on the entire world.
Reading is Sexy!
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illiteracy is a huge issue
just this week, my husband was telling me about the problems he’s been having with his new partner at work… didn’t take me long to identify the issue.
The guy can’t read. I am 100% sure of it.
Now that we know that, can work to make accomodations … so hopefully the problems at work will be solved… but how I wish I had a magic wand that could fix it so that everyone could read!
I can’t imagine life without it.
I agree with wishing for a magic wand. I wouldn’t be able to exist without reading!