When people think of a handicap or disability the last thing they are thinking about is Illiteracy. It has become a huge problem in our country that has developed over many decades and effects every age, race, ethnic group, income levels, and educational level. Those who can not read and write may not realize how harmful illiteracy could be to both themselves as well as others. Some will not be able to read the instructions on a prescription bottle, warning signs on the road or even a bedtime story to their own children. There are many reasons for illiteracy including the lack of education, a failure in the education system or even from the child's own parents. How do these people make it through life and even graduate from high school but still do not know how to read and write?
Many people suggest the fault lies with an inadequate educational system. Due to many of the schools being over crowded, there are not enough teachers to go around and the student body does not get the specific attention it needs to learn properly. Sometimes the teachers are the ones who lack the education needed to instruct. Many do not even realize when there is a reading or learning issue with a student. There could actually be a serious learning disability such as Dyslexia or other difficulty that may be effecting the child's ability to learn. Many of the educators just look the other way as not to be burdened with the problems.
The educational system must keep a certain number of children in schools at all costs. Sometimes the system is not concerned with the performance of the students as long as they are in school. If teachers graded the way they should, the failure rates would be much higher than they are today.
Some of these students are star athletes and recreation becomes the primary factor in their lives. It has been set into their minds when they were young by their parents and piers. Early in their lives the child is taught the importance of being the best and nothing else matters. The school system now comes to realize how important this athlete has become to the school team and grades are given to keep the student on the team, and problems are just pushed aside.
Attendants of Adult Literacy Programs in Germany - Reaching Functional Illiterates Introduction Alphabetisation and literacy programs have gained importance in the last decades. The last PIAAC study exploring adult skills in OECD countries showed that there are relatively high numbers of people with only the most basic level of literacy or below. Germany also has a high number of illiterates (Grotlüschen & Riekmann, 2012, Rosenbladt & Bilger, 2011, Schneider & Ernst, 2009) and below average performance of literacy (OECD, 2013). As this phenomenon has been present for some time, there are many traditional literacy courses as well as anonymous online learning platforms. Nevertheless, these courses are only attended by one percent of the illiterates in Germany (Schneider & Ernst, 2009).
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.
With all these problems how can students possibly receive the proper education required to be successful in life? State...
Last school year, I took a college class that required hours of field experience in a high school English class. I was able to observe different English classes and different high school grade levels. What made a big impact on me was to hear some of those high school students struggling with reading more than the third grade students I was teaching that same school year. These students were expected to read and comprehend grade level text when they were reading at an elementary level. Illiteracy “is considered the blackest mark of a person’s finally in school and the greatest failure in the American school system” (Tchudi, and Tchudi 75) and there are around twenty-five million functional illiterates in the United States (75). Why are our middle school and high school students still struggling with reading? What can English/Language arts teachers do to help these struggling readers?
Student athletes live very busy lives. A typical school day runs from 8:00-2:30, add in a two- hour practice or game, score a part time job, dive into some family time, a grand slam of homework and catch a little bit of sleep. Students are more stressed due to the many activities they are a part of. This issue affects a lot of people not only in this school district, but most other high schools throughout the country. All student athletes exercise more than other children who are not involved in an extracurricular sport. In school athletics, the players are called “student athletes” meaning that school activities come first. There are strict rules for student athletes, not only on the field but in the classroom as well. In physical education
Sports can help many at- risk youths. In order to participate in sports you need to be committed and willing to work hard. You also have to learn to respect others and accept that winning isn’t the only measure of success. Losing can build character as well. When youth participate in a sports they enjoy, they are less likely to engage in behaviors that are harmful or dangerous to themselves and others. It is for these reasons schools should strive to maintain athletic programs for their students.
Also they some say that the students signed up to be student athlete and they have to live by this. They can't just be an athlete on and off the field. it was said that they have to understand how to flip the switch between students and athletes. High school isn’t a solely a place for education, but is also a place where kids can be apart of a sports team. Most students who do sports are just as focused but aren’t academically stable.
According to statistics gathered by youth sports organizations, “Up to 50 million kids play youth sports in America, and 73 percent who begin playing a sport quit before they turn 13” (Binns). The children could have quit because they did not like the disappointment of losing, or because they are exhausted from their parents pushing them too hard. But parents have their reasons for pushing their children into sports. “Studies show that kids who play sports are less likely to become obese, abuse drugs or alcohol or to perform poorly in school” (McCormick). If children are not active, then they will most likely become overweight, and if they have nothing to do in their pastime, they may turn to drugs and alcohol, which usually leads to a decrease of grades in school. A parent putting his/her child in sports gives the child something to do and keeps them fit. Parents also put their child in a sport hoping that he/she will get success out of it “Eager to nurture the next A-Rod or Michelle Kwan, parents enroll their 5- or 6-year-olds in a competitive sports league or program” (Stenson). While not all parents are pushing for future Olympians, the fight for a sports college scholarship is competitive and parents may feel that their child will have a better chance of gaining one if he/she starts competitive sports early. Parents push their children to succeed, and children--not wanting to disappoint their parents--push themselves, sometimes harder than they should. If done right, pushing a child into sports can have a positive effect on the child’s interaction with other children while teaching them commitment and healthy competition. However, focusing on winning and earning a scholarship versus having fun may backfire, because the cons...
There are many other consequences of illiteracy, both on the individual themselves, and the society they live in [Rowe, 2005]. Not only do individuals have a much higher unemployment rate (“2-4 times higher among those with poor literacy skills” [Literacy Foundation, 2009]) but they usually have “lower income [as well as] lower-quality jobs” thus reducing them to an unstable financial status with “reduced access to lifelong learning and professional development” [Literacy Foundation, 2009]. It has also been found that illiterate individuals often have much “lower self-esteem – which can lead to isolation” [Canadian Council of Learning, 2007]. It is also very important for a “nation’s social and economic future” [Rowe, 2005] that there is a low rate of illiteracy. There are many disadvantages for a country that has a “medium to high rate of illiteracy [which Australia does]”
Some schools neglect to think about the kids who is not sure of how they effectively learn, the kids who struggle with understanding new concepts, the kids who try their hardest to study but ultimately fail to grasp new information. I am one of those kids. I have began to understand how I effectively learn due to help from my teachers but, what about the kids who do not have that support system. Why allow them to continue to
Illiteracy Bibliography. “Millions of kids each year suffer from not being able to read. This is called Illiteracy.” Illiteracy is a major problem worldwide, it is when children can not read or write. This can cause failing classes in school and possibly ruining their future.
Sports programs have been an integral part of all schools. They support the academics of the school and therefore foster success in life. These programs are educational and help produce productive citizenship. They help students experience and build skills that may help them in their future, like interpersonal and time management skills. Education may kindle the light of knowledge, but sports help to maintain the proper physique. Sports are also an important means of entertainment and a use for energy after long hours of study. Sports increase a student’s performance not only in the classroom but also in their life.
I do not “blame” it all on the students, not even their parents nor their teachers but, I do blame it on society. Our society has created the idea that someone can succeed without an education, or that decisions that are wrong are actually right, which is not true. This has completely changed the mindset of millions of students across the country. Personally, I believe that knowledge is the key to a successful life and career. Without an education most of the world’s population would go down the drain.
Just imagine you’re a star athlete, you may be strong fast, but you have horrible grades, you couldn't play for a team just because of your grades. Thats a problem for many kids in school from there success of a good college. This can ruin your whole career, if you wanted to play sports. More and more and more kids are kidding kicked off sports teams because of their grades. According to Whyy.org 24% of kids are not able to play sports because of their grades.
What exactly is illiteracy? Illiteracy is defined in the Webster’s dictionary as: 1) not educated; especially, not knowing how to read or write. 2) showing a lack of education --noun. a person who does not know how to read or write -- illiteracy. May-be someone can read just a little, some can make out the sounds of a word and some just cannot read at all. Illiteracy is a “loss” to those who cannot read or write. The impact of illiteracy is devastating. This problem causes other problems as listed below.