Illiteracy and Volunteerism
- By Juanita Malonson Holliman, Ph.D.
- Published 10/14/2009
- Education
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Juanita Malonson Holliman, Ph.D.
Dr. Holliman is available as a presenter and/or consultant for workshops and seminar on the topics of: Assessment and Evaluation of Student Learning Outcomes, Implementing Critical Thinking Across Curriculum, Critical Thinking Teaching Strategies, Interpreting Educational Standards for Accreditation of Nursing and Allied Health Programs, Adult Education/ Context of Society, and other educational themes.
View all articles by Juanita Malonson Holliman, Ph.D.
California and Texas are some of the states that determine how many prison cells to build for the future by how many third grade boys can read. Two thirds of students who can not read proficiently by the fourth grade will end up in jail or on welfare.
Only one out of every six African-American and one out of every five Hispanic high school seniors are proficient in reading. At least 50% of unemployed persons in America are functionally illiterate. Youngsters whose parents are functionally illiterate are twice as likely as their peers to be functionally illiterate themselves (bbd houston.org, 2008). According to Webster, the word “Illiterate” refers to a person who can not read nor write; whereas, “Functional Illiteracy” refers to an individual who can not read or write well enough to deal with everyday life.
Functional illiteracy affects the lives of millions of people every day: the individual who has to rely on pictures and imagines helping them to make sense of the world in which she or he lives in…. Imagine for a second that you are illiterate and that you are unable to read to your children or to help them with their homework; and that you are unable to read a menu in a restaurant, nor, can you read the labels on the groceries you’ve placed in your cart. Think real hard about what could possibly be going through the minds of those unable to read or to write….
In my beloved city of Houston, the city where I was born, Researchers, estimate that one in every three adults in the greater Houston Metropolitan area are functioning at the lowest level of literacy, and that 52% of adults in Harris County are functionally illiterate in English. Lastly, it is estimated that the state of Texas ranks 47 out of the 50 states with serious literacy problems (Darker, 2009).
I urge, Africans-Americans, Latinos, and Other literate persons, to reach out to those who can not read or write. “Reach Out” by announcing to groups, in such places as: churches, bingo halls, casino flyers, unemployment offices, detention facilities, or in any place where groups gather… Tell them that they can walk into any library, ask a librarian where the nearest literacy location is that will help them to learn how to read and write. Tell them also, that learning programs are held in places such as Churches, the “Y,” Elementary/High Schools, Parks, Libraries, Adult Education Programs in Community Colleges, or in someone’s home. While caring, not to ever degrade or disrespect anyone with regards to their “literacy situation.”
Encourage groups, to “empowered themselves” by learning how to read and write: in the words of Fredrick Douglas “Once you learn to read you will be forever free.”
Literacy Coalition of Texas, Reading in Big Texas, Literacy Volunteers of America-Montgomery County, Conroe, Texas, Adult Literacy Programs in Houston , After School Literacy Programs, Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, Community Volunteer Programs of Greater Houston, local Elementary, High Schools, Colleges and University Adult Education Programs. A recurring thought in my mind, is seeing young kids in elementary schools participating in “Peer Literacy Programs,” tutoring their peers who are having difficulty reading and writing in 3rd and 4th grades.
The value of volunteering, while considered by some, as a contribution toward “the Common Good,” or a “Moral obligation,” it is also, a reason to connect with your community, to share your knowledge and skills, to feel needed and wanted, to meet new people, and to serve your community and country.
Only one out of every six African-American and one out of every five Hispanic high school seniors are proficient in reading. At least 50% of unemployed persons in America are functionally illiterate. Youngsters whose parents are functionally illiterate are twice as likely as their peers to be functionally illiterate themselves (bbd houston.org, 2008). According to Webster, the word “Illiterate” refers to a person who can not read nor write; whereas, “Functional Illiteracy” refers to an individual who can not read or write well enough to deal with everyday life.
Functional illiteracy affects the lives of millions of people every day: the individual who has to rely on pictures and imagines helping them to make sense of the world in which she or he lives in…. Imagine for a second that you are illiterate and that you are unable to read to your children or to help them with their homework; and that you are unable to read a menu in a restaurant, nor, can you read the labels on the groceries you’ve placed in your cart. Think real hard about what could possibly be going through the minds of those unable to read or to write….
In my beloved city of Houston, the city where I was born, Researchers, estimate that one in every three adults in the greater Houston Metropolitan area are functioning at the lowest level of literacy, and that 52% of adults in Harris County are functionally illiterate in English. Lastly, it is estimated that the state of Texas ranks 47 out of the 50 states with serious literacy problems (Darker, 2009).
I urge, Africans-Americans, Latinos, and Other literate persons, to reach out to those who can not read or write. “Reach Out” by announcing to groups, in such places as: churches, bingo halls, casino flyers, unemployment offices, detention facilities, or in any place where groups gather… Tell them that they can walk into any library, ask a librarian where the nearest literacy location is that will help them to learn how to read and write. Tell them also, that learning programs are held in places such as Churches, the “Y,” Elementary/High Schools, Parks, Libraries, Adult Education Programs in Community Colleges, or in someone’s home. While caring, not to ever degrade or disrespect anyone with regards to their “literacy situation.”
Encourage groups, to “empowered themselves” by learning how to read and write: in the words of Fredrick Douglas “Once you learn to read you will be forever free.”
Literacy Coalition of Texas, Reading in Big Texas, Literacy Volunteers of America-Montgomery County, Conroe, Texas, Adult Literacy Programs in Houston , After School Literacy Programs, Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, Community Volunteer Programs of Greater Houston, local Elementary, High Schools, Colleges and University Adult Education Programs. A recurring thought in my mind, is seeing young kids in elementary schools participating in “Peer Literacy Programs,” tutoring their peers who are having difficulty reading and writing in 3rd and 4th grades.
The value of volunteering, while considered by some, as a contribution toward “the Common Good,” or a “Moral obligation,” it is also, a reason to connect with your community, to share your knowledge and skills, to feel needed and wanted, to meet new people, and to serve your community and country.
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1 Response to "Illiteracy and Volunteerism"
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said this on 02 Mar 2010 9:34:20 AM MST
An article which educates the masses....
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