News
RUTH COLVIN'
Ruth Colvin's efforts to bring literacy to the world have been nothing short of astounding. The 90-year-old Syracuse resident and founder of Literacy Volunteers of America has visited 26 countries with the tools of true liberation: a passion that the unlearned should know how to read and write and the resources to impart that gift.
On her most recent trip, chronicled in Monday's Post-Standard, she accompanied Cazenovia real estate developer and humanitarian Bob Hood to Haiti.
But here is what is so profoundly sad: Half the citizens in that Caribbean nation are illiterate, which is to be expected. Haiti is one of the poorest nations on Earth.
In the United States, one of the richest nations on Earth, 11 million people are illiterate; 30 million have "below basic" literary skills; and 63 million have only "basic" skills.
In Syracuse, a quarter of the adult population is functionally illiterate. In fact, it was the city's low literacy population that inspired Colvin to found Literacy Volunteers of America in 1963. (In 2002, LVA merged with Syracuse-based Laubach Literacy International to become ProLiteracy Worldwide.)
The adults aren't the only ones in trouble.
On the most recent state English test, 63 percent of students in grades three through eight statewide met the basic standard. In Syracuse, that statistic was flipped: Sixty-three percent failed to meet the standard.
Reading scores are one of the key factors that determine whether students will drop out of high school, according to ProLiteracy.
People with low literacy skills are more likely to end up poor and sick. They cannot compete in the workforce - one reason so many jobs are outsourced to foreign workers, says ProLiteracy.
And, sadly, there is a domino effect. Adults with poor literacy skills cannot help their children, who are more likely to drop out of school, get into trouble and become pregnant as teenagers.
There must be a national mindset that takes the issue far more seriously. Sixty-three percent of students in any school district should not fail a state reading and writing test while the community barely notices.
Adult literacy also must become a focal point of policymakers. One hundred million people without sufficient literacy skills is a national crisis. Yet funding for adult literacy programs is woefully inadequate.
Other nations understand the critical need for adults to be literate.
In 1976, Norway became the first nation to guarantee adult learners education rights. In 2001, the European Union passed a resolution to back adult learning, including in the workplace.
The United States should be a leader in literacy, and the Syracuse area, home to the foremost literary organization in the world, should not be satisfied as long as a single resident is without adequate literacy skills.
But those goals will never be met until civic leaders, policymakers and citizens decide that reading and writing really are fundamental.
Canandaigua, NY, Literacy Volunteers of Ontario County (LVOC) was awarded accredited status by ProLiteracy America, the US Programs Division of ProLiteracy Worldwide. LVOC has served Ontario County for 40 years helping adults improve their reading, mathematics, listening, writing, speaking, and technology skills.
Peter Waite, Executive Director of ProLiteracy America, says, "We are proud to add Literacy Volunteers of Ontario County to our growing list of accredited organizations. They have demonstrated that their program meets the highest national standards for volunteer literacy programs and that their services to the community are effective. We applaud the many volunteers, staff, and students who have devoted their time and effort to achieve this goal."
ProLiteracy America's Accreditation provides literacy programs with a comprehensive process for: 1) conducting an organizational self-assessment; 2) developing program improvement plans; and 3) demonstrating that their organization meets the highest standards for governance, program management, program operations, and volunteer development.
The following recipe was submitted by tutor Lynne Westmoreland. The idea resulted from the Spelling Bee that was held in February 2007. Please try it. We know you will enjoy it.
Spelling Bee Hummus
From Lynne Westmoreland
2 cans chick peas, only 1 drained
3 cloves garlic
Juice of 2 lemons
2 TBS olive oil
tsp salt
tsp pepper
tsp cumin
1/2 to 3/4 cup tahini
Combine all ingredients in food processor and process until desired consistency.
ENJOY! |
