"… Moreover, there is surprisingly little agreement on or specific evidence for the benefits of literacy, whether socially or individually, economically or culturally." (Graff 3)
"Economists, sociologists, planners, and governments inform us that literacy rates correlate with scores of factors, ranging from individual attitudes to economic growth and industrialization, per-capita wealth and GNP, political stability and participatory democracy, urbanization and vital rates, communications and consumption—to list only a few of the correlations reported. There is a certain logic behind many of these correlations; however, no convincing or documented explanations or analyses correspond to them." (Graff 9)
“A lot of jobs I applied to and you needed a high school diploma. If you want a higher paying job, your GED helps you.” – Brenda, Tolton Center student
The quotes above illustrate the apparent disconnect between what scholars have found that literacy does and does not do and what the students at adult literacy sites believe that literacy will help them achieve.
So, whose side is right? What is literacy good for? And, as Prendergast asks, “who benefits from proposing literacy as the answer to all social malaise?” (Prendergast 5)
[Brenda]
Brenda took her GED test last week. She spent seven hours sitting in a classroom downtown on a Saturday with only a 45-minute break for lunch. She must believe in the power of literacy or else she would not have made such an investment. Brenda believes that literacy has direct social, individual, economic, and cultural benefits.
“Literacy is a great purpose in life. We need it in everyday life. We use it in everyday life. It’s not just reading and writing. It’s the way you present yourself by communicating with others. It helps you be a better communicator. Your sentences are better. You can write letters and represent yourself better in those letters… I think people kind of look down on [illiterates]… like they are not capable to learn.”
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