Adult Illiteracy
Most of us can read and write ok, after all we are all on the web and there's no problem is there?
But just think what it would be like if you went to Beetlegeuse and your Babel Fish died, and noone would let you have a new one.
You couldn't read the video screens because not only are they in a different language, they are also in a different form of script.
Starting to get worried? You should be; you just ignored a danger sign which said the opposite sex toilet for your species which you walked into a moment ago is about to explode!!
Lets hope you got out of that one alive, but where to go? What you really want is a pan-galactic-gargle-blaster at Stringpersons. But you can't read the map, or the sign's on the rapid transit link; so you end up having a Chicken Little burger and Diet CokiPep at the dive over the road; both of which turn out to have that special side option of Beetlegeuse curry flavour.
If you don't like what you are hearing, thats life in the UK if you can't read and write. It hasn't happened to me you think; well what about family and friends? Even the official statistics say one in a hundred people have functional literacy problems (and that's half a million people); but in reality it's probably even more. After all, it can't be an accident that the biggest selling newspapers in the UK (the Sun, Mirror and Star) all have a reading age of around 7 years old.
The chances are therefore that you know someone who can't read, it's just they have learnt by hard experience how to conceal it.
Yes the government is doing its bit to stop the problem growing with more money going into basic skills at Primary Schools but what about all those who have left school and are desparately trying to find work or fill out an application form for a Council flat or a benefit allowance?
Can you help?
Think about it.
There are many organisations both voluntary and public sector who are working hard in this area, and all of them need Volunteers. One of them is Amity Reading Clubs, a voluntary literacy scheme and registered charity working in South East London.
Want to know more? Visit our web site at www.amity.org.uk
May the force be with us both.
Philip Glascoe
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| Hello and welcome. | Oct 19, 2000 |
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Phil
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