I've lost a lot of jobs"one man explains. "today, even if you're a janitor, there's still reading and writing....They leave you a note saying "Go to room so-and-so...."You can't read it. You don't know." p. 208,The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society,Jonathan Kozol. I selected this quote because I feel the suffering, that has occurred in his life due to losing jobs. This quote explains completely the hardship of being illiterate in life. The author begins the article by listing the precautions listed on a can of Drano, this warning from a can of drain opener explains the true dangers in the life faced by someone who is illiterate, by not being able to read the label the illiterate person is now in serious danger. Going back to the quote,the man says, "I've lost a lot of jobs", Here is a man who is in constant danger from notes of every kind, notes written as warnings on cleaning product labels, notes from his boss, notes placed on equipment used for cleaning. What if they change the soap used and place the bottles of new soap on the floor. He doesn't know the bottles contain soap for the old soap is on the shelve for it he must use the old soap up first, if you can't read this causes a very serious problem. I think of all the extra things the illiterate worker must do to hide the illiteracy from co-workers and boss to find out exactly what those new bottles on the floor contains.
I ask myself, what I can do to correct the Literacy Problem here in Wisconsin. What can be done to help a older worker, who is losing jobs because he can't read. I believe that the classes must be free for if he is losing jobs money will be a problem. The classes should not be a source of embarrassment for the article notes how those who are illiterate are embarrassed and don't want others to know. I plan to become a social worker and I know, that I will be taught how to correct the problem of the illiterate and how social workers address this problem. If we can begin to address the problem by helping the illiterate to find a better job, by beginning with teaching them how to read labels and warnings on the products they use at work maybe this would make this person want to read all labels, street sign, insurance papers, etc. This I hope, would begin an enjoyment of reading.
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I agree these sorts of literacy classes must be free...but we simply don't offer enough of them due to every dwindling resources. We must rely on volunteers to do the job...and even there...we just don't have enough volunteers. I sure could feel your compassion for these folks, Henriette. Such a tragedy, isn't it?
ReplyDelete"This is a society that most of us did not create but which our President and other leaders have been willing to sustain by virtue of malign neglect(Kozol 209)".
ReplyDeleteI was Shocked to read Kozols Paper on The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society, are there relay people around me who can't read, write where they go shopping they depend on pictures. I question the Kozols paper. Is it that bad, the picture Kozol paints if it is that bad then why don't i see people like those in my every day life. Like the quote i chose to in the beginning if this is the society we didn't create the what is it we can do to help.