Illiteracy in America

[-Fate-]

Many American adults are illiterate, either the type which cannot read any type of writing, or the type which essentially renders them illiterate since they cannot even perform basic reading tasks, such as reading a manual.

Since I don't feel like giving a lot of random relevant background information and really just want to see people talk about it so I have something to read, go.

http://useless-knowledge.com/1234/aug/article321.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Shameful-Secret-of-Illiteracy-in-America&id=23757
http://www.nrrf.org/essay_Illiteracy.html

Summary: Phonics work, and learning words as words doesn't. Also, there are a lot of stubborn and stupid people out there.

 

[warpus]

A lot of young people also aren't learning how to write properly. I blame "texting".

 

[-Fate-]

This isn't really just young people not learning how to write properly. These are adults who grew up without computers, mostly.

 

[Ansar]

That's odd. I thought the United States was a well-educated place?

warpus - I haven't noticed this. Though I do admit, I did it for about the first week of school in 6th grade because I had spent the whole summer addicted to a MMORPG, I quickly realized the errors of my way and told myself to correct those ridiculous mistakes.

 

[MobBoss]

Many American adults are illiterate, either the type which cannot read any type of writing, or the type which essentially renders them illiterate since they cannot even perform basic reading tasks, such as reading a manual.

Since I don't feel like giving a lot of random relevant background information and really just want to see people talk about it so I have something to read, go.

http://useless-knowledge.com/1234/aug/article321.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Shameful-Secret-of-Illiteracy-in-America&id=23757
http://www.nrrf.org/essay_Illiteracy.html

Summary: Phonics work, and learning words as words doesn't. Also, there are a lot of stubborn and stupid people out there.

Define "many". I doubt that the problem is as widespread as you allude here.

 

[-Fate-]

"Many" is as high as 20%.

 

[Tycoon101]

"Many" is as high as 20%.

Please supply proof of that claim, please.

Edit: Although, that number is entirely possible due to the amount of immigration that this country receives each years.


I must say that teaching methods need to be looked at. When schools let their teachers have their students "read" by listening to tape decks (I have a friend who is a substitute teacher in New York State, and she has seen the absolute stupidity of the teaching methods used in private and public schools) there is a huge problem with the system.

I would propose a government standardized reading test in which you must get at least a "C" to pass onto the next grade. If you fail this test (which could only be failed if you are illiterate) then you will be held back so you can take the test next year. This would help weed out much illiteracy from the student population and stupidity in many a teacher's curriculum.

 

[-Fate-]

According to the National Adult Literacy Survey, 42 million adult Americans can't read; 50 million can recognize so few printed words they are limited to a 4th or 5th grade reading level; one out of every four teenagers drops out of high school, and of those who graduate, one out of every four has the equivalent or less of an eighth grade education.

92 million out of a little over 300 million is "many".

 

[Bamspeedy]

Please supply proof of that claim, please.

13.3% is closer than 20%, but from the first link:

The USDOE estimates 40 million Americans 16 years of age and older possess what are called “Level 1” reading and writing skills. This means they can sign their name, but can't understand such basics as the instructions for programming a VCR, reading a map, or accurately fill out an application for a Social Security card.

Edit: Although, that number is entirely possible due to the amount of immigration that this country receives each years.

...And seniors who grew up in a time when schooling wasn't mandatory so they could quit school and work on the farm. (not to say there isn't an illiteracy problem with the youth of today, most of them are in from the inner-city where dropout rates and 'sliding through class unnoticed' is easier.)

 

[Ansar]

I would propose a government standardized reading test in which you must get at least a "C" to pass onto the next grade. If you fail this test (which could only be failed if you are illiterate) then you will be held back so you can take the test next year. This would help weed out much illiteracy from the student population and stupidity in many a teacher's curriculum.

In Florida, we have the FCAT Reading. You must get a 3/5 or higher to pass.

If you don't, you're put in Intensive Reading for the next year.

Did you have something in mind along the lines of that?

 

[Merkinball]

I have a friend who taught 7th grade history in downtown Nashville, the average reading level for 7th grade students in his school was 2nd grade.

 

[amadeus]

This means they can sign their name, but can't understand such basics as the instructions for programming a VCR, reading a map, or accurately fill out an application for a Social Security card.

In other words, people over 40.

 

[Japanrocks12]

In other words, people over 40.

I'm sure people over 40 in other countries have those capabilities

 

[MobBoss]

"Many" is as high as 20%.

You are trying to tell me that you think 60 million+ people are illiterate in the USA?

As they say around here....got proof? Because I dont see it.

 

[MobBoss]

In other words, people over 40.

Easy there bucky.

 

[amadeus]

Easy there bucky.

It's all the tell-tale signs, Mobby...

Can't read a map,
Can't program a VCR,
Can't fill out a government form?

You tell me who that sounds like.

 

[MobBoss]

It's all the tell-tale signs, Mobby...

Can't read a map,
Can't program a VCR,
Can't fill out a government form?

You tell me who that sounds like.

A european?

 

[Riffraff]

I doubt this is an US-specific problem.

There was a campain here a while ago which brought attention to the fact that 4 million Germans (out of 80) are illeterate. Seems quite normal for large portions of the population to get through life with no/minimal reading skills.

 

[CaptainF]

A european?

Captain Non Sequitur, is that you?

 

[Grisu]

well reading the VCR-manual isn't really a good example as they are often written in pseudo-english (or pseudo-german in my case)

but yeah, this keeps being a problem (even in western countries where you wouldn't expect it like the US or Europe). there are very few 'true' illiterates left but still (too) many functional illiterates (people who can read and write theoretically, but can't understand what they're reading, etc).

I think the guess in switzerland is around 7% functional illiterates