Bastrop County:
Approximately
23 per cent of
the adults in Bastrop county read
below the 5th grade level.*
That's almost one
out of every four adult Bastrop residents who can not functionally
read or write.
*Source: synthetic Estimates
of Literacy, developed by Stephen Reder. Based on 1990 Census.
Available at http://www.casas.org/lit/litcode/Search.cfm
**Definition
of Literacy:
An
individual's ability to read, write, and speak in English, and
compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary
to function on the job and in society, to achieve one's goals,
and developing one's knowledge and potential.
**As defined by the U.S. Congress
in the National Literacy Act of 1991.
Illiteracy
Statistics
- 80
%
of the recipients of TANF (Temporary Aid to Needy Families)
are low level readers or non-readers.
-
80% of the inmates of correctional institutions are low level
readers or non-readers.
- A
Texas Department of Commerce study concluded that low reading
skills costs Texas an estimated $17.12 billion annually in lost
income, lost tax revenue, unemployment insurance adult training
and education, and the increased cost of crime, welfare, and
incarceration.
Primary
Causes of Adult Illiteracy
Studies
show that most adults who are good readers
had:
- parents
who read to them regularly from a very early age.
- parents
who took them to the library frequently.
- many
books and magazines in their homes.
- parents
who read frequently.
Studies
show that most adults who are poor readers
or non-readers had:
- no
one to read to them as a child or to take them to the library.
- had
no or few books or magazines in their homes.
- hardly
ever saw their parents read.
- had
at least one parent who could not read.
- came
from homes that spoke no or little English.
- immigrated
from an non-English speaking country.
Secondary
Causes of Adult Illiteracy
- Undiagnosed
learning disabilities
- No
access to competent remedial programs.
- Incompetent
school systems and incompetent teaching.
- The
high mobility of our population that results in children being
enrolled in numerous different school systems that use different
teaching methods and curriculums.
Illiteracy is a serious problem in
our society today...
You can be a part of the solution by:
