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When I was young there were older people that had to work in order to help feed their families when they were young and didn't have the chance to learn how to read and write.

But recently I've noticed more young people that can't read or write. And there are alot of them that can barely do it.

It's hard to believe in the modern world a person could be like that. I'd think just by watching TV a person would learn to read and write.

This is going to make life very hard for them as they go through it.

2006-11-30 07:08:07 · 6 answers · asked by Sean 7 in Society & Culture Other - Society & Culture

It's not the immigrants I'm talking about, they take advantage of the situation and end up smarter than the people that were raised here.

2006-11-30 07:17:42 · update #1

Thanks Good Guy for the Stat, fact that one in five Americans are not literate. One in five is alot when you think about it, in modern society I'd think it would be 1/100.

2006-11-30 17:52:24 · update #2

6 answers

BINGO! - So what you're saying is, although people no longer have even quite the excuse they once did not to avail themselves of the benefits of a free public education, they are doing it in record numbers. I think you are right. It is the end result of all the instant gratification thinking our society is built around. To make an analogy: How many people do you know who plan to make a million... and how many do you know who want to hit the lottery?

Literacy should not mean ability to read English. Many if not most immigrants coming here can read their own language. But what is the excuse of the suburban kid or urban kid who scores 100 on verbal half of the SAT? -- There is no good excuse, yet it happens every day. It's commonplace.

2006-11-30 07:12:03 · answer #1 · answered by martino 5 · 2 0

Yes I've noticed alot of young people myself that have a hard time reading and writing. Education doesn't seem to be as important as it was in the past.

Asians can come here and be very successful but the average American can barely make it, I think Americans feel everything is suppose to be handed to them.

2006-11-30 15:54:11 · answer #2 · answered by Wesley S 3 · 1 0

My People have Learn the Valve of what Education!!!
We use our Tradition Valve to help US!!!
KIDS watch Too much TV and Do know the Valve of Work!!!
Kids today get most everything they Want or given to them!!!
So You Can Guess Why Illiteracy is Growing!!!

Wahoo!!!

2006-11-30 15:18:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

There are several problems that arise with illiterate people functioning in society. First, the costs of illiteracy are great burdens on large government as well as local areas. Second, there is the question of how people can survive in a literate world without being literate themselves. Third, motivation for adults to become literate has fluctuated in the past decade.

One of the most significant problems the U.S. faces in the area of illiteracy is the cost for large government as well as local cities and towns. For example, "it costs an estimated $100-200 billion per year in unemployment, welfare, health care, and incarceration costs." These costs are usually paid for in the form of taxes that could have been used elsewhere. Also, effects of a less literate work force in terms of competitiveness and production is notable.

A crucial question that has been asked is: what is the definition of illiteracy? There are two definitions that have been used in textbooks and other resources. The first is conventional literacy, which is realized when an individual can read, write, and comprehend material, as well as, "understand whatever signs, labels, instructions, and directions are necessary to get along within one's environment." The second is functional literacy, which is defined as realized when an individual can function in their own environment and to reach success in their own roles in society. These individuals can "read and write adequately to satisfy the requirements they set for themselves." The question that follows is: are these individuals reaching their actual potentials or are they just surviving in a world that is based on conventional literacy guidelines?

Based on the preceding definitions, what motivates people to better their literacy levels? Studies show that most people who are not literate are in situations where providing for their families monetarily, taking care of sick children, and putting food on the table takes precedents over whether or not they can read or write adequately. Also, in some cases, "language-minority students come from literacy-impoverished homes where education is not valued or supported." Consequently, those families that are literacy impoverished tend to breed children who are not attempting to reach their own literacy achievements on their own. These are some of the problems that the U.S. faces in trying to deal with the fact that one in five Americans are not literate.

2006-11-30 19:45:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

ill asc mi speshal ed techr.

Yes, I like to blame "no child left behind" but I can't say that too loud. Teachers have been put in a very sticky situation that forces, yes forces, them to modify work sooo much that if a kid can't read, they are read to so that they pass the tests and pass the grade under an IEP or 504 plan. If they fail that student or demand more of him or her, the parents claim discrimination and usually will win, and the school district gets harsh grading against them (leading to less money to pay their teachers and for services next year).

Here's where I put a plug in for parents to actually be parents to their children. Be involved! Read to your child. Participate in his or her education! Ultimately we parents are to blame. We can change it or accept it.

2006-11-30 15:18:24 · answer #5 · answered by Greywolf 6 · 1 0

These immigrants that are coming into our country can't read or write so the illiteracy rate is gonna rise because of that.

2006-11-30 15:09:45 · answer #6 · answered by Cuddly Lez 6 · 0 1

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