Illiteracy Epidemic

The word is not just a sound or a written symbol. The word is a force; it is the power you have to express and communicate, to think, and thereby to create the events in your life.
 - Don Miguel Ruiz

Illiteracy is a very dangerous epidemic in our society. It is a little known fact that approximately 90 million Americans have low or very low literacy skills meaning they cannot read above the 6th grade level. There are 44 million adults who cannot read a simple story to their child. Also, 3 out of 4 people on welfare cannot read, so you can see the affects of literacy on job prospects. This is a very disturbing trend that so many adults in our society cannot read the menu at a restaurant. 

The importance of reading needs to be stressed to our children from birth. The joy of reading and developing your mind is so important. Children learn to use their imagination through reading and listening to stories. Evidence shows that illiteracy does start at home. A National Governors' Association Task Force on Adult Literacy reported that illiteracy is an inter-generational problem, following a parent-child pattern. Poor school achievement and dropping out before completing school are commonplace among children of illiterate parents. 

We as adults have to have a thirst for reading and knowledge to be able to pass this important lesson on to our kids. We must read to them, encourage them to read, and read ourselves to keep our mind as sharp as possible. This trend of illiteracy can stop with this next generation if we can teach our kids the joys of reading.