Literacy is key to success

Published 11:08 am Wednesday, September 5, 2018

This month is National Literacy Month, which aims to draw focus to the literacy issue our state and our nation face.

According to a recent National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL), 90 million Americans read at basic and below basic levels, which directly impacts our communities and impacts future generations as well. 

These kinds of statics often impact families in a continual cycle if left unaddressed. 

In fact, children whose parents have low literacy levels have a 72 percent chance of being at the lowest reading levels themselves. They are also more likely to get poor grades, display behavioral problems, have high absentee rates, repeat school years, or drop out, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).

The need to foster reading skills development simply cannot be overstated. 

Studies indicate that children’s literacy levels are strongly linked to the educational level of their parents, especially their mothers.

It should be no secret to any of us that illiteracy or low reading levels impacts all aspects of our lives and our communities. Economic security, access to health care, and the ability to actively participate in civic life all depend on an individual’s ability to read.

When we take a closer look at our economy — on every level — local, state and nationwide, literacy and job skills development cannot be overlooked as they correlate to jobs growth. 

It should be evident to everyone that the strain of illiteracy is not just a problem for the individual but it also hinders the growth and progress of the community at-large

Low level literacy skills not only impact the individual but they also have a significant affect on the community’s growth and development if locals are impacted. It is equally as much an individual’s issue as it is an issue for the whole community. When we take a closer look at our economy — on every level — local, state and nationwide.

Literacy is a lifelong process for many of us and it must become a way of life for all of us if Baldwin County is to succeed in the future.