The anchors of illiteracy
In an industrialized society with nearly universal elementary schooling,
and nearly ubiquitous print, it is reasonable to ask what keeps literacy
from developing, what holds illiteracy down — the metaphorical
"anchors" of illiteracy.
Among the anchors of illiteracy are the limited availability of literacy
programs, and barriers to participation in them. The costs of study
— such as tuition, transportation, foregone wages — are
frequently obstacles for potential learners. Women in particular must
often cope with inadequate child care, lack of transportation (especially
in suburban and rural areas), and the burden of doing two jobs a day.
Women's male partners sometimes resist their efforts to further their
education.188 Some government programs help overcome these
barriers. For example, some programs offer arrangements for childcare;
some are tuition free; some offer stipends. But such supports are not
universal. Standards should be devised for such programs of assistance,
and the adequacy of existing measures assessed.
School and society
Education systems that continually leave children and youth with limited
literacy are another of the anchors of illiteracy. Although school attendance
is compulsory from age 6 or 7 to age 15 or 16 in different provinces
and territories, not all students develop literacy skills. It is difficult
to know how many students leave school each year with notably limited
literacy skill. The Statistics Canada survey shows that 6% of 16-24
year olds are at levels 1 and 2 of reading ability. A Canadian Teachers'
Federation survey of public found that teachers now say that 18% of
students they deal with have "basic" literacy difficulties
— e.g., with regard to reading, "understanding word meanings
and concepts presented in uncomplicated contexts," as appropriate
to a grade level.189 It is often asserted that about one-third of students
leave school before obtaining a diploma.
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