Literacy is no longer defined as just reading, writing, and mathematics. It now encompasses many types of literacy needed to thrive in our modern society. The Beyond the Books | The Language of Success Podcast hosts timely information on the state of literacy in the U.S., as well as interviews with experts from various fields of study and professions. The podcast discusses literacy from statistical, academic, and personal perspectives.
The current state of literacy in the U.S. is abysmal in relation to the country’s wealth. It currently stands at thirty-fourth place worldwide, with several much poorer countries ranking higher. Here are a few facts:
• In 2022, 21% of adults in the U.S. are illiterate
• 54% of adults read below the 6th-grade level
• 20% of Americans read below the level needed to earn a living wage
• 130 million adults now cannot read a simple story to their children
A few months ago, I overheard a conversation between two young people who were gathering up grocery carts in the supermarket parking lot. Their conversation centered on the various wars that the United States had been involved in. One teenage boy couldn’t remember the name of the war in which the U.S. became a country. The young man began cruelly berating himself for how stupid he was. I spoke up and told him he was not stupid. There are methods of teaching that can assist with learning and memory difficulties.
How many other young people and adults think they are stupid when in reality they have not been adequately taught?