Literacy Rate IN U.S. vs Africa

Briton Ott

Briton Ott
11/25/12
Geo 113W-FA120
Literacy Rate People who can’t read and write can make for a big problem. Without reading and writing people will not be able to get a good job. This is a big problem that should be solved. “Literacy is defined as the ability to use written language actively and passively; one definition of literacy is the ability to "read, write, spell, listen, and speak".” If the Literacy rate in the U.S. is can be one of the best then what is Africa doing to make theirs the worst. The U.S. has a great literacy rate. I know this from living here. It’s the same thing as anywhere else if you can’t read and write here you will not survive. Reading and writing is a big part of our everyday life here. There is nothing you can do in the work force that somebody can do if they can’t read or write. If you get orders from your boss to do you won’t be able to understand what he wants done therefore you will get fired. But before that even happens you have to be able to fill out a resume or even write your name if you can’t do that then there is no way for you to make money to provide for yourself or a family for that matter. Literacy is very important - many would say a human right. A good quality basic education equips pupils with literacy skills for life and further learning; literate parents are more likely to keep their children healthy and send their children to school literate people are better able to access other education and employment opportunities and literate societies are better geared to meet development challenges. To survive we have to buy things out of a grocery store for food otherwise there really is no source of food unless you can hunt which even then that wouldn’t be able to provide for yourself because we have laws on hunting that you need to know. If you can’t understand the packaging on food how are you supposed to know what you are going to buy. Also to survive you have to have place to live to live you have to be able to have a source of income and sign your name. If you live in Michigan you have to have someplace to live because the winters are too cold and with no place for shelter you will not survive. Kids in the use are made to go to school. We have preschool and kindergarten while you are still very young to teach you the basics of reading and writing. Schools here are free to go to so parents who don’t have a lot of money can send their kids for free with free transportation there so they don’t have to pay anything. When they get older they will have to go to grade school where they will learn other subjects after they learn to read and write. The U.S. also provide free high school to people again with free transportation and free meals if they eat in the cafeteria. Kids have all the opportunities in the world to go to school, with schools around every corner in pretty much everycity. This way there is no excuse for them not to go. Kids are not allowed to miss school once enrolled they will have to go to their classes with few exceptions on being able to miss. Everybody knows kids can’t get a good job if they don’t finish high school. Then we offer college this is the first time you will have to pay for schooling what you do here is on your own time you do not have to go but are encouraged so that way you can get a good job. Without the proper literacy you won’t be able to make it to college and get a good job. The U.S. has a 99% literacy rate, it is one of the highest in the world. Because of the reasons I just listed going to school is free and kids have to go. If not you are looked at as a bad parent. Reading give people chances to read books and other things to keep them occupied. Reading can open your mind to new thoughts and imagination and other people do it just for their own amazement and fun if they have a good book. Kids start to read books at a young age to promote that reading is good for you and to expand