Illiterate AmericaIt is startling and it is shaming: in a country that prides itself on being among the most enlightened in the world, 25 million American adults cannot read the poison warnings on a can of pesticide, a letter from their child’s teacher, or the front page of a newspaper. An additional 35 million read below the level needed to function successfully in our society. The United States ranks forty-ninth among 158 member nations of the UN in literacy, and wastes over $100 billion annually as a result. The problem is not merely an embarrassment, it is a social and economic disaster. In Illiterate America, Jonathan Kozol, author of National Book Award-winning Death at an Early Age, addresses this national disgrace. Combining hard statistics and heartrending stories, he describes the economic and the human costs of illiteracy. Kozol analyses and condemns previous government action—and inaction—and, in a passionate call for reform, he proposes a specific program to conquer illiteracy. One out of every three American adults cannot read this book—which is why everyone else must. |
Contents
The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society | |
Silent and Unseen | |
What Is Now Being Done? | |
The Children of Nonreaders | |
The Mandate for a National Response | |
The People Speak Their Word | |
Cause for Celebration When People Speak the Nation | |
Technological Obsession | |
The Obligation of the Universities | |
Literacy Redefined | |
Borders | |
Inscriptions | |
The Prospects for the Generation Now in Public School | |
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Common terms and phrases
academic Adult Basic Education Adult Literacy already American answer areas believe Boston Globe C. P. Snow census cited citizens Cleveland competence danger described ethical exist fear federal functional funds goal grade level groups high school Hispanic human humanistic Illiteracy illiterate adults Illiterate America instruction interview Jack Black kids language Laubach Literacy learner less literacy programs literacy workers live mechanistic Michael Fox Michael Harrington military million nation neighborhood never newly literate nonreaders November 25 offer oral history organizers parents participation Paulo Freire pedagogic percent person political poor population problem public schools question read and write reason recruitment reports represent scholars semiliterate Sissela Bok skills society speak struggle teach teachers tell Terrel Bell understand United University victims W. H. Auden Washington Washington Post woman written words York