Illiteracy
...adults can not read at all. America is supposed to be one of the most affluent advanced societies in the world. Free public education is available in every nook and cranny of this country, and the federal government spends billions of dollars every year battling illiteracy. So now the major question, why are so many American adults illiterate? In this essay I would like to raise awareness to this growing problem in hopes of finding a way to end this tragic epidemic.
Illiteracy is considered a learning disability. Reading is an important and must have skill everyone needs in life. Reading is a skill upon which all our learning skills are based. Beginning readers must understand the concept of the alphabets and their principle in order to master basic reading skills. Good reading comprehension rests on a foundation of the fluent reading of words. Good readers can rapidly recognize words without having to think about what the words are and they automatically activate meaning of the words they are reading. An illiterate adult is unable to accomplish this task. Readers who are not fluent readers have comprehension difficulties that increase in severity as words and sentences become more complex.
Reading to children at an early age is often the best way to ensure success in school and in life. Children who read with their parents have higher intelligence and reading capability. The child is better able to comprehend language and communicate well. With adult illiteracy on the rise there is little hope of parents assisting their children in developing literacy skills they need.
The problem of adult literacy does not get much notice because few people realize the frequent occurrence of adult illiteracy. Many adults read at or below the fourth or fifth grade levels. Some adults can not read at all. For those adults, simple everyday task present major...
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