Santa Maria Library - The values of reading, writing

The values of reading, writingSanta Maria Times: February 13, 2007

Santa Maria officials have announced a collaborative effort to promote adult literacy. Why is this important?

A good question, with a vast array of good answers. For example:

Fifty million Americans cannot read or comprehend above the eighth-grade level. Existing literacy programs involve fewer than 10 percent of those adults.

U.S. schools have a dropout rate approaching 30 percent, compared to 5 percent in Japan and 2 percent in Russia. Many kids leave school early because they can't read or write as well as their peers. They're embarrassed and retreat into a shell of illiteracy.

The inability to read and write costs U.S. businesses more than $225 billion a year. Nearly two-thirds of prison inmates are illiterate. Almost 90 percent of juvenile offenders are illiterate. Almost half of adults who receive welfare are illiterate. Nearly three-quarters of those who can't or won't hold a job are illiterate.

And here is a compelling reason why literacy is important, at least in this country - as an individual's literacy rate doubles, so does that person's income.

So, in a very real way, literacy has a big payoff and is a worthwhile investment.

The Santa Maria program is a joint effort by the city and the Central Coast Literacy Council, but judging from the data on illiteracy, this should be everyone's concern.

The hope is to create a literacy center at the new library, with a focus on native-born, English-speaking American citizens who, for whatever reason, cannot read and write at even junior high school levels. The Literacy Council is conducting remedial classes, but only eight people are currently enrolled.

This is a project in which you can play a direct role. The council needs volunteers, and two training workshops are being held next month for anyone who is interested. Training is slated for March 17 and 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the United Way, 1660 S. Broadway. For more information, call 922-9200.

If you can help, please do so. A more literate community will be a better community.