Rebecca Wagner can't forget the most recent student she lost to humiliation.
He was about 50 and had been brave enough to make his way to the Community Learning Center in Kensington. That alone was huge, says Wagner, director of the nonprofit literacy school for adults. For those crippled by the inability to complete a job application or read a text message, asking for help requires courage.
The man was given 12 reading comprehension ...
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A detailed, thoughtful article on adult illiteracy. The reporter includes much context and many sources (though most are anonymous for various reasons relating to illiteracy).
“I see our students make progress. So you have to wonder, what was going on for 12 years when they were in school? And where are the truant officers?” During a recent class on percentages, one student told Miller, “I always wondered about this percentage thing.” He had a credit card and didn’t realize he was being charged 24 percent interest. “He had been paying only the minimum amount listed on the bill every month and didn’t understand why he owed $740.”
Many vital points are brought up by the reporter’s inclusion of key quotations from stakeholders. These two above say a world about the causes and costs of illiteracy.