The thought of not being able to read seems like a huge impossibility to many in this modern era as many are educated on how to read in their early school years. “Yet illiteracy affects a person's ability to fully participate in and contribute to the world around them. About 18% of the US adult population is functionally illiterate” (Haderlie). Illiteracy has been a problem since the beginning of the United States when many wouldn’t want to study either as many wanted to work immediately to help support the family. Later education would be spread widely to help improve students's education to get better jobs, and yet in modern eras it still doesn’t seem to have improved by a lot. With the lower population cities some are very unlucky to have a poor education system therefore producing poor uneducated students. Although Illiteracy in America has been increasing again over the years, the possibility of getting better funding for other school districts and helping uneducated immigrants and other minorities get better education could be a solution.
Illiteracy inside the United States has made a greatly noticeable negative impact on the economy, social integration and national security. According to the TG Sticht and the Office of Educational Research and Improvement. Illiteracy among immigrants makes it difficult for them to communicate, obtain employment, and participate in civic activities. It creates a language barrier that impedes their integration into American society, limits their employment opportunities and can lead to social isolation and a lack of access to information. The inability to access education can lead to poverty and limit their access to essential services. As well as with the inability to read can lead to national security threats since it would be very difficult for immigrants to be able to understand laws and regulations which can lead into their involvement in illegal activities. This is why it is important for the Government to provide education and help support the immigrants to improve their literacy skills and promote social and economic integration into an American society. Though illiteracy can have negative impacts on individuals and society, it is not only the government's responsibility on providing education, immigrants must take their own responsibility for their education and to seek out other resources to help them improve their literacy skills. Though by helping to promote literacy among immigrants the United States can help them become more productive members of society, help reduce poverty, and to help improve national security.
Education is a crucial tool needed to reduce illiteracy rates within immigrants and to help them succeed and adapt into their new homes. According to Ferrer, Green, and Riddell (2006), immigrants who participate in adult education programs are more likely to improve their literacy skills, find employment, and earn higher wages compared to those who do not. While education is indeed important for immigrants, it is not the only solution to reducing illiteracy rates. Some immigrants may not have the time or resources to indulge in education programs making it a least feasible solution for everyone. Education would not only help enhance immigrants' literacy skills but as well better allow them to understand their responsibilities and rights as a resident living within the United States. This ability to understand will allow them to be able to participate more in civic life and strengthens their ability to integrate into society. With an investment in education programs for immigrants, policymakers will be able to reduce illiteracy within immigrants and help with the many problems that come with it. Being able to do so and allowing immigrants to integrate more into civic life would allow them to help create stronger communities across the country. Thus providing education opportunities is essential to support the success of immigrants and reduce illiteracy rates in the U.S.
Community-based education programs are a very effective solution for addressing illiteracy within immigrant communities. KM Rivera's study indicates that community-based education programs are successful in providing literacy skills to immigrants. They enable immigrants to learn from their peers, provide education that is relevant to their daily lives, and create more flexibility than traditional classroom settings. Moreover, community-based education programs promote the use of immigrants' native languages, which helps to bridge the language gap and enhance comprehension. A community based education program may not be as effective as relying on only community based education programs may perpetuate the marginalization of immigrant communities and fail to address issues such as inefficent funding or resources for public education. Rivera’s study shows the effectiveness of a community-based education program in providing literacy skills to immigrants. Programs like these have more advantages compared to simple classroom settings like, having a comfortable living environment, meaningful learning experiences, and being able to do it at their own pace. These advantages are great for immigrants who are having difficulties facing the the many challenges a traditional classroom setting would have due to culture differences, language barrier, as well as other social or economic factors, These community based education prime the use of immigrants native tongue which can really help them improve their comprehension and understanding of the material. By utilizing a comprehensive approach which includes community based programs policymakers and educators can help reduce illiteracy rates within immigrants and furthermore improve their integration into society.
In conclusion, Illiteracy in America is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Many communities, especially rural ones and those with high immigrant populations, are disproportionately affected by illiteracy. Organizations such as the Literacy and Basic Education Alliance (LBTA) are working to ensure that every American has the right to a quality education. Various government initiatives, better school funding and support for immigrant communities are all needed to help repair the growing problem of illiteracy in America. With the implementation of these steps, the opportunity to create a more educated, productive and valuable society becomes a reality. Illiteracy in America is a complex issue that is caused by a variety of factors, such as poverty, inadequate educational resources, and social marginalization. This problem has significant implications for society, as it can lead to economic difficulties and lower overall quality of life. Fortunately, there are various solutions that can be implemented to address this issue, such as improving access to education, providing more resources for adult literacy programs, and creating awareness campaigns to educate the public about the importance and benefits of literacy. The findings of various studies show that investing in literacy programs can lead to a more prosperous and stable economy in the long run. Therefore, it is important for individuals, communities, and policymakers to recognize the potential of each solution and work together to tackle the issue of illiteracy in America.
Works Cited
Behrman, J.R. and Mitchell, O.S. "How financial literacy affects household wealth accumulation." American Economic Review, vol. 102, no. 3, 2012, pp. 300-304, https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.102.3.300.
Diallo, Alpha. "Improving Literacy in the United States: Recommendations for Increasing Reading Success." Center for American Progress, 2013, https://www.americanprogress.org/article/improving-literacy-united-states-recommendations-increasing-reading-success/.
Ferrer, A., Green, D.A., and Riddell, W.C. "The effect of literacy on immigrant earnings." Journal of Human Resources, vol. 41, no. 2, 2006, pp. 380-410, http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/XLI/2/380.short.
Haderlie, Chloe and Alyssa Clark. “Illiteracy Among Adults in the US.” Ballard Brief, November 2017, www.ballardbrief.org.
Lusardi, A. and Mitchell, O.S. "Financial literacy and retirement preparedness: Evidence and implications for financial education: The problems are serious, and remedies are not simple." Journal of Consumer Affairs, vol. 44, no. 2, 2010, pp. 271-295, https://link.springer.com/article/10.2145/20070104.
"Popular research and social transformation: A community-based approach to critical pedagogy." Qualitative Studies in Education, vol. 15, no. 4, 2002, pp. 397-412, https://www.jstor.org/stable/3587675.
"The Effect of Self-Reported Health on Use of Health Services: Is There a True Relationship?." American Journal of Public Health, vol. 87, no. 6, 1997, pp. 1027-1030, https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.87.6.1027.
"The Rise of the Adult Education and Literacy System in the United States: 1600-2000." ERIC, 2008, https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED508720.