Analysis Of In Defense Of Literacy, By Wendell Berry

In “In Defense of Literacy,” Wendell Berry explains literacy is a requirement, not an embellishment. Literacy is more than the ability to just read and write; it's also the ability to understand what a person is reading and make sense in what a person is writing. While some people may think that achieving literacy requires hard work and gets little outcome, I think that literacy makes people more ambitious, confident, more attentive, and more prosperous in life than those who are not literate. Joining in on conversations and voicing ones philosophies is easier if people are literate and educated, and people feel worthy of themselves when they have the ability to do so. People are more determined in life, whether it is with their professions

or continuing education, when they have an education and knowledge of what is going on around them. While reading Berry’s essay, although some points seem unclear, I realized how thoroughly I agree with Berry.
Some people may enjoy getting their education in a practical approach and think that it is enough for them to survive in this world, but it is much more significant to get an education in theoretical manner. According to Berry, “The schools, then, are following the general subservience to the “practical,” … benefit of corporations. By “practicality” most users of the term now mean … most quickly make a profit. Teachers of English and literature have either submitted, … along with the teachers of the more “practical” disciplines, to the doctrine that the purpose of education is the mass production of producers and consumers. This has forced our profession into a predicament that we will finally have to recognize as a perversion. As if awed by the ascendency of the “practical”… apparently ready to say, that if a student is not going to become a teacher of his language, he has no need to master it.” I disagree with Berry’s statement. Being a college student myself I’ve learned much more than just practicality by my professors. Practicality may be beneficial to corporations, but professors who teach mastery can be taken to whole new level. If teachers just teach students how to purchase items and add and subtract prices, subsequently yes that student is going to be very practical in life. Now if something was mistaken during the consumption, that student won’t have sufficient literacy to fight for what’s accurate. It is very important to master in a language, even though a student isn’t going to be a educator of his or her dialect. For example, if a student decides that he or she isn’t going become a pharmacist, instead wants to nurse. It’s going to very beneficial for the student to master the language of pharmaceutical, even though the student isn’t going to be a pharmacist. Reason being is that if the student decides to become a nurse the student will have knowledge on medications, amount of dosages given to a patient, and nutrition to due the mastering in pharmaceutical language. Although a student might not be going in the field that they were studying in, it’s necessary for them to master the language because it going to be very beneficial in any field of employment. Teachers are doing more than just teaching student how to be practical, they are making sure that the students are mastering in literacy as well.
We are surrounded in language in our every day life, whether it’s being read, written, or seen.

Having an understanding will determine whether or not one will have an indulgent of language. As Berry states, “illiteracy is both a personal and a public danger. Think how constantly "the average American" is surrounded by premeditated language, in newspapers and magazines, on signs and billboards, on TV and forever being asked to buy or believe somebody else's line of goods.” If a person reads a newspaper and can’t understand what’s written, it’s definitely going to be a personal danger. Now when that person is asked a question about the news spread or what a product does that is shown in a magazine, if one can’t understand what’s scripted that same person won’t able to clarify it and that’s public danger. Even if the product looks good in a magazine or billboard, but if one can’t understand what the product does than he or she won’t be able to purchase the item. Majority of the Americans watch debates on TV and if one person doesn’t understand anything that the candidates are saying, then that person will have a hard time conversing with family members or even colleagues. Being illiterate will have a toll in a person’s ordinary ambiance, but having knowledge will make it easier for a person to have discussions about their understandings on what’s written, seen, read, or

heard.
People meet other people from all over the world, who may work in a field that’s not in ones interest, but he or she should have the basic knowledge of all subjects.

As Berry explains, “But whereas specialization is of the nature of the applied sciences, it is a perversion of the disciplines of language and literature. When we understand and teach these as specialties, we submit willy-nilly to the assumption of the "practical men" of business, and also apparently of education, that literacy is no more than an ornament: when one has become an efficient integer of the economy, then it is permissible, even desirable, to be able to talk about the latest novels. After all, the disciples of "practicality" may someday find themselves stuck in conversation with an English teacher.” For example I don’t like biology, but having knowledge in biology won’t hurt it’ll only make the conversation much easier if I meet some one who’s in the medical field. No one wants to look senseless being stuck in a dialogue. Opening up books and having a basic literacy in all areas or subjects will benefit in ones personal and professional existence, so being practical won’t do

justice.
Finally, literacy is important, and is a necessity for everyone to have. Being practical won’t hurt, but having knowledge will make a person very successful. Teachers are working twice as hard to make sure that students are mastery their knowledge, it’s important to understand what’s being read on newspaper or magazine, seen on TV, or even heard on the radio, and also having literacy will make a person have a knowledgeable dialogue. People with knowledge are confident, determined, and convincing. Having the ability to read and write is very beneficial in every day living of those who aren’t literate.