How does illiteracy affect our society? Illiteracy is a big problem in our society, even though it does not seem like it. It is affecting our society drastically both socially and economically. Illiterate individuals are endangering themselves in their daily survival. Also, literacy is something that we need nowadays to survive in society. Reading and writing are some of the most important skills that humans need in their everyday lives, so it is important that they obtain literacy in their early development. Most of the people in our society do not have the opportunity to be literate in their life time. It is important that the government reach out to those people who do not have the opportunity to be literate. Illiteracy is an ongoing critical …show more content…
As an illustration, illiterates usually do not vote during elections. Elections are the most basic foundation of every country’s political system. Illiterates lack the knowledge of the political system and how it works, leaving them not knowing how their contributions will matter. The lack of knowledge can make the person not care about the country, leading them to not vote. Certain studies show that less people are voting during elections, and illiterates are included in the statistics, as they do not have the knowledge of how they can contribute to make the nation better. Similarly, even if they vote, it is not by understanding the political platform or the strategies of the candidates. Even if uneducated people make an effort and vote, they completely do not understand who they are voting for and what the candidate can offer to the nation. Being illiterate will leave the people blind to the ideology, and this will make it difficult for the individuals to understand the ideas and contribution of candidates. By choosing a wrong candidate, they will put the country into more damage than doing any good. Rather than the philosophies of the candidate, it may be a friend forcing the illiterate person to vote or it could be a poster that may see on the roads that may look attractive to them. These factors will lead them to vote, making it unfair to
For instance, Menand writes, “The fraction of the electorates that responds to substantive political argument is hugely outweighed by the fraction that responds to slogans, misinformation...random personal association.” Mass voters mostly pursue the wrong or irrelevant information that are irrelevant to the election; thus lead them to vote for the candidates which they do not really want. Their choices mostly lack rationalities. Many voters who are slightly informative think that they are participating in a certain issue and considering the value of the candidates; yet most of them do not have adequate information and knowledge in understanding the meaning of political terms. Voters lack judgment on their government and candidates, their minds are easily being brainwashed by a small amount of people who has informative approaches in participating governmental issue, and affect their
On the national civics assessment, “two-thirds of 12th graders scored below ‘proficient’…and only 9 percent could list two ways a democracy benefits from citizen participation” (O’Connor and Romer 4). The information provided clarifies just how little students know about democracy. Without education on the subject, they are unaware as to how their government contribution is beneficial and why it is needed in the first place. The students, because of their lack of understanding, therefore choose to not take part in their government and fail to carry out their duties as a citizen. The authors provide more research that shows “the better people understand our history and system of government, the more likely they are to vote and participate in the civic life” (O’Connor and Romer 8).
It continues to be a big problem with the ranks swelling each year. Although safety nets are everywhere, illiteracy is still abundant. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, in 1998, ten million children between seven and eleven years of age performed below the most basic level of reading achievement.
In the Essay “The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society” by Johnathan Kozol. Mr. Kozol uses quotes, key points, experiences and his knowledge companied by effective forms of rhetoric throughout the essay to speak to highly educated and intelligent individuals who have to power to make a difference. He explains in detail how an illiterate society is affecting not only the illiterate’s life, but also the country’s democracy, and endangering the lives around them as well. He interviews individuals who share their experiences of fear, hopelessness, confusion and frustration when dealing with everyday life situations that most people could figure out on their own.
This hurts our society because these are the people that will vote for the next president and educate the next generation of members of our society. While the text “I Just Wanna Be Average” by Mike Rose doesn’t present an extreme case of illiteracy, one could argue that Rose’s placement in vocational education class can be blamed on his parents, they were unable to question the school why, and took it for what it was. Thus depriving him of the opportunities that could have been presented to him earlier in his
As the world advances through the modern age of information and connectivity, having a literate society is crucial to being able to work effectively with the outside world. Jonathan Kozol’s book, The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society, portrays the life of illiterates in the modern world and argues that society has an ethical obligation to fix the problem of illiteracy. Kozol believes that illiteracy has the greatest effect on the education of current and future generations, the way food is consumed and wasted, and various economic costs to both illiterates and those around them. Kozol’s main point throughout his book is that society as a whole needs to face the problem of illiteracy, as not one single group or person can do it on their own.
The cycle of low scholastic achievement is so prevalent in poverty stricken communities is the benefit the political system. The politicians continue to keep their jobs and political power and education is power. This is accomplished because illiteracy inhibits the knowledge required to vote for a qualified candidate for office. “Economies with low or high levels of education can escape the poverty trap, and inequality plays a key role in determining whether this occurs through a change in institutions or an expansion of education”Eicher.Garcia-Penalosa and Tanguy van Ypersele,p207.
“Phenomenologically, Donny and Timmy were not growing up in a literate environment. Although they lived in a home situation in a city situated in a country that contained many forms and functions for print, they did not experience it. They did not notice it around them; they did not understand its uses. Their world functioned without written language” (Purcell-Gates, 1997, p. 58).
On the contrary, a person that is illiterate has many limitations in their life. Limitations can consist of any disadvantage that can stop a person from becoming successful in their life. For one of many examples, illiteracy has a significant impact on the economy, because it affects the jobs and basic living skills that people need to survive. Mental disorders can possibly ensue in an illiterate person’s life. In some cases, it is like they live in a world of their own and alienate themselves from other individuals.
“Libraries are filled with masterpieces that great authors toiled over to complete, but the pages in the books go untouched by many of us” (Barnett-Bey 333). You may either perceive reading as a privilege or take it for granted. Reading is one of the most fundamental parts of our daily lives, that’s why some people may take it for granted and not even realize it because of how we use it every single day. It is important because it improves concentration, vocabulary, and imagination. People often read for their own entertainment and it improves the mind’s ability to understand ideas, follow arguments and detect implications. The amount of people who are illiterate is astonishing. “The challenge is taking the time to read respectable literature, but it is vital to us as individuals and as a country” (Barnett-Bey 336). I couldn 't imagine how hard illiterate people 's lives must be, living every day and not being able to read simple sentences, read a cookbook and try to learn how to cook or even a sign in a resturant. General wonderings occur to me of how and what people will be reading in a generation, and if it will actually make a difference in their lives. "If we, as a society, do not connect to literature by reading we are missing the very essence of our being" (Barnett-Bey 334).
An education is something that one can keep for a lifetime. Acquiring a good education can affect one’s personal life, one’s community, and one’s entire generation.
Being literate defines who I am, and forms an integral part of my life. From the practical to the creative, it aids, and enables me to perform in the tasks that modern society dictates. I shall explore the many aspects of my life that are affected by literacy. Through this, understanding in greater depth what it means for me, to be literate.
All that can really be seen is what appears before ourselves. What we see on billboards, television, or radio show constantly the views of a new runner for politics whom proclaims what he or she wishes to accomplish. Listening to it, one can create a thought of why did they choose that topic for an argument? Today not all people vote so the ones who do are the people these “runners” focus on. Why would they fight to create increased pay to schools if all the voters are the elderly? Why not focus upon retirement benefits or healthcare? As citizens we have complaints on how the government manages our money and yet we do not do anything about it. Voting gives a chance. If certain groups grew in votes different ideas would be made for these “runners”. Say the young adults started to vote a lot more. We could have schooling benefits, less tuition fees, higher education levels, and possibly a large increase in jobs. One United Kingdom publisher explains, “If you vote, the campaigners urge, the politicians will have to listen to you and things will change.”(Kirkup, The Telegraph). Also youth have the longest time, and live what the country becomes. To conclude, voting doesn’t take long and doesn’t require almost any effort. All it requires just an open mind and yet people just do not realize this opportunity. Right now we could be living in the richest most opportunistic country if everyone could understand what can become of our views. Life could be looked forward not
After twelve years of school, it took me until now to figure out exactly why I had been there all those years. It was not to torture me by making me learn how to spell but to make sure that my classmates and I got the opportunity to make the most of ourselves. Opportunity that would come from learning as much as possible from books and beginning to see that the world focuses on more than just history and English . I owe my success in life and school to teachers who taught me to spell and to be respectful and responsible. Those quick to argue with me say that school's usefulness is shallow: deeper-real-life experiences truly educate a person. School should be seen not only as a place to study, but also as a place to learn about real life. People cannot depend on experience alone for education just as they cannot solely rely on information from school books to prepare them for life. The lessons, whether from a book or not, learned in school transcend the classroom to real life situations.
Education plays a vital role in shaping tomorrows’ leaders. Not only can we become a better nation by acquiring the skills necessary to be productive members of a civilized society. Increase knowledge to actively achieve and meet challenges that can produce changes in which are productive for attaining business innovations, political and economic objectives.