Criminon.org: "National Institute of Justice claimed that illiteracy was the primary cause of crime. And it's no wonder; if one cannot learn, where can he or she turn in order to survive? A recent study of juvenile offenders placed them, on average, at a third grade reading level. Jobs were simply not an option; they simply did not have, and could not learn, the necessary skills. And thus they were absorbed into the gangs, and the attendant drugs and crime."
Representative Tom Trail: "Dr. Bob Barr of Boise State University stresses the importance of helping 3rd grade students read at grade level. Dr. Barr reports that a child not reading at grade level by grade 3 stands almost a zero chance of graduating from high school. Studies of the students who don't reach reading at grade level by the end of grade 3 -- years later -- find that they are generally unemployed, under employed, or unemployable. The State of Indiana, in making projections for future prison construction, bases their estimates on the number of students failing reading at the third grade level. The social and economic consequences of failing to learn to read is dramatic."
Not to be mean, Adam, but this is such a white northern liberal thing to think. I know lots of people who can't read English -- and not a few who I suspect can't read any language -- and they do OK. They aren't in jail. They have jobs, get drivers' licenses, own businesses, often are deeply concerned with their childrens' educations. People like us think of reading as the foundation for every skill... but the truth is there are lots of people who basically get along without it. I'm not saying I'd like to be one of them, but it's not a one-way ticket to the penitentiary either.
Posted by: Troutgirl | August 27, 2003 at 02:58 PM
I wasn't making a judgment call. I just thought it was strange (and sad) that that is how The State Of Indiana was making its projections.
Posted by: Adam | August 27, 2003 at 09:22 PM
Well, maybe things are different in Indiana. Here in Cali, overwhelmingly the reason for functional illiteracy is immigration -- and I admit that most of the people I know who can't read well are immigrants. In Indiana, I'm guessing it's poverty and possibly alienation from mainstream culture.
Posted by: Troutgirl | August 27, 2003 at 11:16 PM
That's my guess for Indiana, too. And I never heard anyone claim California uses that statistic to make its estimates...
Posted by: Adam | August 28, 2003 at 05:59 PM