Dear Sir
by Ruth

Manager,
C B C,
2055 Kings Road,
Vancouver, B C

Dear Sir:

I was watching the Journal's piece on Adult Literacy February 11,1986. As an adult who has reading problems, I was not too impressed with the announcer because he made me feel like I had a disease. Because as an adult illiterate it was not all my fault. In the fifties schools just failed you or put you in a special class because that made them happy. Because we were out of the way we would not be any problem to them. One thing they forgot was we would grow up. And now we are unemployed or on welfare or part of the working class. I have been looking for some help for over twenty years. I have found help now, thanks to the TV news. But even then the broadcast almost made me miss it. On the news program they had a story on Adult Literacy programs in Surrey, B. C. The interviewer asked about the subject of literacy. There were two Adult Literacy teachers talking, and I was so interested in it. The newsman said, "Sorry I do not have time to put the phone number on TV. People can look it up in the phone book". How can you look it up in the phone book if you cannot read or spell? I was so mad. But at the end of the program they showed the phone number. I feel that the interviewer should tell people how to get in touch with the program.

I have been going to the Young Adult Literacy Program for two nights a week. I was told I have a grade three reading level. I thought I had grade eight. But they tested me first, so now I know where I stand. So now I'm reading books. I have never read a book before. I am also writing a lot. I have been very lucky in jobs. Right now I am making $16 an hour, and nobody knows I cannot read or spell at my jobs because we are professionals at hiding it. I know I have for thirty years. I just hope the governments open their eyes so our kids don't have to go through what I did. In this day and age they should not have to. The government should hire back teachers before it's too late.

Background Information

This letter gives the writer's opinion about a television show that was about adult literacy. Has a television program or something in the newspaper ever made you angry? Have you ever written a letter to someone about your anger? Talk about something in the news today that makes you angry. Also talk about adult literacy. Do you think enough is being done to help people learn to read and write?

Questions

1. When was the show on TV?

2. What made Ruth angry?

3. What does it mean to be illiterate?

4. What did Ruth say the schools in the fifties did to students?

5. What did the schools forget?

6. What do you think Ruth felt about her time in school?

7. What is the opposite of unemployed?

8. What helped her find the help she needed?

9. What made her angry about the Surrey BC story?

10. What is Ruth's solution to literacy problems?