Return-Path: <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g8DJLRX00440; Fri, 13 Sep 2002 15:21:28 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2002 15:21:28 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <20020913191641.XRZU3050.mtiwmhc23.worldnet.att.net@webmail.worldnet.att.net> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: litrcynow@att.net To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1280] Something to peruse X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: AT&T Message Center Version 1 (Sep 10 2002) Status: O Content-Length: 1776 Lines: 49 Yes, another Literacy Day has come and gone, and where are we? There is now much conversation about children's need to learn to read. But how many of their parents can be of any help? According to the National Adult Literacy Survey, 42 million adult Americans can't read, and according to current estimates, the number of functionally illiterate adults is increasing by approximately two and one quarter million persons each year. The federal government alone has more than 79 literacy-related programs administered by 14 federal agencies. A conservative estimate of the total amount of money being spent on illiteracy by the federal government would place the amount at more than ten billion dollars each year, and growing steadily. Then there are corporate donations, State and local funding, as well as the thousand of volunteer workers. And yet, most communities would have to admit that far less than 10% of the estimated population in their area that need help are receiving such help. Could it be that there are transportation problems? Child-care problems? Job schedule problems? What, if anything, is being done to serve those that do have such problems? There is a way to solve all of those problems. But the Federal government has seen fit not to utilize this solution. Every literacy group in the nation has been informed of this solution, and few have opted to use it Employers have been informed about this solution, and only 4 in the entire nation have utilized it. Instead the only thing offered to those adults is "COME ON IN, AND WE'LL HELP YOU LEARN TO READ, totally ignoring the above-mentioned possible problems. Isn't it time to broaden the approach to making America more literate? Jack Feninore Literacy NOW, Inc.
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