Essay on Functional Illiteracy - 873 Words

What is Illiteracy? An adult or adults with a reading incapacity, a lack of knowledge of a subject, and/or a error in speech or writing according to Encarta World English Dictionary is a person or persons with illiteracy. Ronald Nash the author of an on-line article entitled The Three Kinds of Illiteracy he describes the three different types of illiteracy. Nash explains in detail cultural, moral, and functional illiteracy in his article. Cultural illiteracy defined by E.D. Hirsch Jr. is to possess the basic information needed to thrive in the modern world (Nash). Moral illiteracy is not being taught or lacked the education and understandings in religious or spiritual beliefs (Nash). Functional illiteracy refers to the inability of an†¦show more content†¦This survey measured three areas that included: pose, documentation, and quantitative proficiency (Literacy Center for the Midlands-Facts on Illiteracy). Through many studies it has shown that illiteracy has a significan t impact on the economy (Economic Impact of Illiteracy in this Country). The American Council of Life Insurance reports that three quarters of the Fortune 500 companies provide some level of remedial training for their workers (Economic Impact of Illiteracy in this Country). According to Economic Impact of Illiteracy in this Country an online article reports that a study done by the Northeast Midwest Institute and The Center for Regional Policy found business losses attribute to basic skills deficiencies run into the hundreds of millions of dollars. This is due to the low productivity, errors, and accidents that occur on the job (Economic Impact of Illiteracy in this Country). Some think that illiteracy may be the cause of many deaths that occur (Illiteracy) About 30% of 2,659 patients had inadequate comprehension of the written instructions on the prescription bottles according to an on-line article entitled Illiteracy. America has many affected areas which illiteracy maybe larger than anyone may seem to think. In Mississippi, the worst ranked state in America, about every third person is placed at level one illiteracy (Roberts). Roberts reports in the state of Michigan that 18% of adults,Show MoreRelatedDoes Illiteracy Affect Crime and Poverty Rates?1757 Words   |  7 PagesDoes Illiteracy Affect Crime and Poverty Rates? Illiteracy is a growing problem in the United States. The amount of juvenile delinquents entering correctional facilities that are considered â€Å"functionally illiterate† is at an astonishing 85%. Being functionally illiterate means that these children lack reading and comprehension skills that are necessary in order to function in everyday situations as well as the ability to work and maintain a job. Complete illiteracy means a person cannot read orRead MoreThe Cycle Of Illiteracy And Illiteracy984 Words   |  4 PagesThe Cycle of Illiteracy Illiteracy has always been a problem in society in various ways that I believe, can only be frowned upon. Events in the past and present days emphasize the importance of basic education focusing in literacy as an essential part of our society. An experience as simple as a parent being illiterate can have a ripple effect on their children. Such as, my grandfather, who was raised in Mexico and was taught that labor to provide for his family was of higher importance thanRead MoreLow Literacy Is A Prevalent Problem Among Adults1494 Words   |  6 Pagesand consider that nearly half of Chicago’s population cannot read proficiently. Although some people are completely illiterate, meaning that they completely lack the ability to both read and write, most are simply functionally illiterate. Functional illiteracy as stated by Daniel Lattier is defined by the UNESCO and he sums it up as the following, â€Å"The UNESCO definition implies that a functionally literate person possesses a literacy level that equips him or her to flourish in society. A functionallyRead More The Roots of Illiteracy Essays1230 Words   |  5 PagesThe Roots of Illiteracy      Ã‚  Ã‚   A problem that pervades our society and threatens to undermine all of the advances of our culture is illiteracy. Why is illiteracy so prominent in the United States? In such a diverse culture the causes of illiteracy cannot be easily pointed out. The United States has one of the most expensive higher educational systems in the world, yet 43% of adults read at a level that scarcely makes it possible to function in society.    Almost 22% of adults are notRead MoreThe Human Cost Of An Illiterate Society By Jonathan Kozol946 Words   |  4 PagesStatistically, based on reports from 2003, 99% of the total population ages 15 and over can read and write (CIA Library). Thus, one can conclude illiteracy is not a crisis. However, â€Å"The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society† by Jonathan Kozol, implies something different. Kozol emphasizes the hardship of an illiterate, and briefly explains the importance of helping an illiterate without providing much of a solution, while Kozol’s essay was ineffective overall because of the lack of factual evidenceRead MoreProblems Faced by Illiterates Essay478 Words   |  2 Pagesthat sort would have. This chaos is not far from what millions of illiterates feel on a daily basis. The phrase illiteracy applies to more than a simple inability to read or write. There is also functional illiteracy. Functional illiterates can read words but they cannot comprehend their meanings, synthesize information or make decision based on what they read. Illiteracy could also be defined as restriction or confinement due to the simple fact that, thats the type of life many non-readersRead MoreLiteracy Is A Common Problem Around The World Essay1415 Words   |  6 Pagesvarious textbooks in order to gain new knowledge about their selected major. Many adults and children around the world cannot read one sentence, much less pages and pages of comprehensive subject matter. The inability to read and write, known as illiteracy, is a common problem around the world, especially in developing countries, and has many unfortunate consequences. Literacy plays a major role in the world, impacting various aspects of society, politics, and the world economy, not to mention individualRead MoreCell Phones And Its Effects On Our Lives1578 Words   |  7 PagesDevelopment) country where the current generation was less educated than the previous one. †¢ Nearly 85% of the juveniles who face trial in the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate, proving that there is a close relationship between illiteracy and crime. More than 60% of all inmates are functionally illiterate. †¢ 53% of 4th graders admitted to reading recreationally â€Å"almost every day,† while only 20% of 8th graders could say the same. †¢ Reports show that the rate of low literacy in theRead MoreOrganization Background Of Literacy Connections Essay2221 Words   |  9 PagesVolunteers are recruited, trained and supported to provide one-on-one or small group tutoring to adult students. Recognizing that illiteracy is a family issue, our Book Buddies and Classroom Book Buddies programs recruits volunteers to read one-to-one once a week with a child who is struggling with reading in the 2-4 grades. Our goal is to prevent adult illiteracy by helping children achieve grade-level or better reading skills at the critical time when children are transitioning from learningRead MoreLiteracy Skills And Development Of Literacy Training Programs907 Words   |  4 Pagesworking together, nurses can improve the accessibility, quality, and safety of healthcare provided, reduce costs, and improve the health and quality for millions of people in the United States† (Bastable, 2014, p. 258). Health Literacy versus Functional Illiteracy Health literacy does not encompass only literacy in itself. There is more involved then reading and writing. Health literacy is defined per Bastable (2014) by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in the Patient Protection and Affordable