Many state U’s these days have advisers tasked with talking students out of majoring in any of the humanities. Idk its connection to literacy’s decline, but it points to how universities have gone all in on business/STEM to the exclusion of all other academic fields.
I think about this often. Why is science tested in elementary in every state I've ever worked in, but not social studies? *adjusts tinfoil hat* because science-versed employees make billionaires money, and ss/liberal arts-versed citizens can organize against those very billionaires.
Maybe you should be the one who writes it! Or me? I've been thinking them both about a lot in the context of the decline of journalism and the concept of "media literacy"
Yeah, I'm thinking about that element too--last week, students asked where I get my news, ensuing discussions were whew. Feels unwieldy to make a sweeping case for Words, but also disturbing to let it go unsaid. Seems like there's probably room enough for more than one piece...
About 20% of adults in the US can’t read or have trouble understanding what they read. I don’t think the fact that this isn’t treated like a problem in need of solution is disconnected from what you’re saying, and I think both are inextricable from anti-curiosity culture having political power.
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English Learners not fluent in their first language or a mother’s education level impact English language acquisition.
However, the US literacy rate has remained unchanged over the past fifty years.