Literacy
integral to economic development
Lompoc Record: 2.16.2014
Lompoc
has deemed economic development as a top priority. Illiteracy is a root cause
of economic and personal decline.
Here
are a few statistics on the impact of illiteracy on economic costs. Three out
of four individuals on welfare are illiterate. More than 60 percent of those
arrested are illiterate. According to Pennsylvania’s Washington County LiteracyCouncil 2003 research “adult illiteracy costs society an estimated $240 million
each year in lost productivity, unrealized tax revenue, welfare, crime, and
poverty.”
And
to see our literacy program’s impact locally, witness Lompoc resident Jacova
Palacios’ success story.
After
completing the Library Literacy Program, Jacova has been able to read and
comprehend financial and legal documents allowing her to purchase a home. Her
new skills also led to her researching businesses plans, applying for the
necessary licenses, and starting a child care business she now runs from her
home in Lompoc. A relatively small investment in literacy pays huge returns.
While
the City Council agreed to fund the Lompoc Literacy Program until June 2014, no
one proposed a viable solution for the continuance of this vital program. The
suggestions offered by the council members were all valid and should be
explored: 1) research additional partnerships with other local literacy
organizations and programs, 2) find new donors from those already supporting
these other programs, and 3) request the library board of trustees to review
the literacy program’s placement as an adjunct program rather than an integral
program of the Lompoc Library’s general funding.
While
no long-term solutions were presented, it is still important that the city
consider designating some of our tax dollars specifically for the literacy
program as this reflects a strong community support for the program making it
more appealing to grants and donors.
READ MORE!
Wooster
program tackling local illiteracy
Daily Record: 2.02.2014 by Linda Hall
A
retired Wayne County Schools Career Center teacher has a new mission -- working
toward conquering a sobering local illiteracy rate in her new role as the Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) coordinator.
An
educator for 31 years, Chris Boyan began tackling her new job as ABLE
coordinator in August; she has already made a comprehensive presentation to a
local service organization outlining the problem and what she believes is the
solution to illiteracy.
"It's
an invisible problem," she said, fearing the solution also is not as
highly visible as it should be. It's the reason she wants to spread the word
about ABLE, which has been helping people move beyond their academic
limitations.
Boyan
said the government has defined functional illiteracy as the inability to
manage daily life and work activities because of insufficient reading and
writing skills.
Boyan
provided statistics showing about 20.7 percent of 18-24-year-olds in Wayne
County have no high school diploma or certificate; nor do 15.3 percent of
adults 25 years of age and older. Illiteracy and dropping out of high school
are often intertwined problems.
But
Boyan countered, of the overall 11.9 percent of all Wayne County residents who
don't have a high school diploma or credential, this past year "we only
worked with 358 people."
In
her opinion, "we're not getting through to the crowd we need (to reach
with) the solution," Boyan said.
It's
not just a local problem, but a nationwide one, she pointed out, presenting
data illustrating the staggering consequences of illiteracy. READ MORE !
Nonprofit fights low literacy rates
in Montgomery County
Your Houston News: 2.17.2014 by
Stephanie Buckner
The issue of low literacy rates has
been a long-standing problem in the United States for many years.
According to the United States
Census Bureau, as the population of an area becomes more diverse, the literacy
rate becomes considerably higher
It is the main goal of the Literacy
Volunteers of America to decrease the growing amount of illiteracy within the
American population.
In Montgomery County, the nonprofit organization has several volunteers who support the needs of those wishing to
increase their rate of literacy for any reason that they may have.
“We really cater to each
individual’s personal needs,” said Shelley McCoy, who is one of the volunteers
for the organization in Montgomery County. “Some people want to expand their
knowledge to advance in their careers and some people just want to be able to
speak to their family. Everyone learns at a different rate and everyone learns
differently.”
McCoy is a retired educator, and
while many of the literacy volunteers do have education in their background, it
is not a requirement as a volunteer.
“Educators and non-educators both
make excellent tutors,” said McCoy. “Teaching was always a real high for me.
When you see someone - as an adult learner or a child learner — when you see
them really get it, that’s when you know that you’ve done your job.”
The mission of the Literacy
Volunteers of America program is to “engage, educate and empower” the community
in an effort to fight poverty and improve the overall quality of life for those
who seek their assistance. The adult literacy program teaches people to read,
write and speak English, all free of charge.
READ MORE !
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment