[NLA] Does poor literacy equal poverty?

[Dianna Baycich]

Hi,
I'd like to add that both of the low level readers I am currently tutoring
work at a large car assembly plant and have made more money than I can ever
hope to. So poor and low literacy do not always go together. And if we start
talking about different kinds of literacy (social, spiritual, etc.) it makes
an even bigger difference.
Dianna B.
  -----Original Message-----
  From: nla-admin at lists.literacytent.org
[mailto:nla-admin at lists.literacytent.org]On Behalf Of Deborah W. Yoho
  Sent: Monday, December 16, 2002 10:55 AM
  To: NLA list
  Subject: [NLA] Does poor literacy equal poverty?



  Andrea: A thought-provoking question. In recent years, I've found myself
down-playing the fact that a majority of the adult learners in our program
live in poverty. The stereotypes associated with poor people seemed to
aggravate an image of literacy learners as helpless, lazy, non-productive
individuals who are a drag on society and at best only deserve our pity. The
ws expecially a problem during the Welfare "Reform" movement. Instead I
prefer to speak of our learners as courageous, hard-working adults who have
far more in common with the mainstream than differences, because their hopes
and dreams for a better future, and desire to learn, are more significant
than their current income level in terms of why services should be provided.
I am also uncomfortable with the "literacy is a good investment" idea, which
argues the need for services in terms of what the rest of us can get out of
other human beings. So yes,I think posing poor literacy alongside poverty is
indeed a "no-no".


  Deborah W. Yoho
  Moderator, NIFL-Health Discussion Group
  Executive Director, Greater Columbia Literacy Council
  2728 Devine St. Columbia, SC 29205
  803-765-2555 dwyoho at earthlink.net




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