Literacy Mid-South is Aiming High
Story and Photos by Louis Goggans/MicroMemphis Reporter
April 21, 2011
April 21, 2011
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Daniel, a student at Literacy Mid-South, said he has struggled with reading since the first grade.
“I couldn’t say S, T and B words,” said the 53-year-old who currently reads on a fifth grade level. “I couldn’t say words like spaghetti, taste and balloon. Someone could tell me a word, but I couldn’t pronounce it.” Daniel tried to hide his reading problem, but it still didn’t stop peers from teasing him. “People laughed at me and it made me not want to read out loud,” he said. “When I was young, I didn’t want to read because my words would stumble.” According to Literacy Mid-South, an estimated 30 million Americans over the age of 16 read on the same level as Daniel. |
The non-profit organization located in Memphis’ Cooper-Young neighborhood, is working to help change this harsh reality by teaching illiterate adults and children how to read.
Emily Yellin, a published author and a former writer for the New York Times, is also a Literacy Mid-South board member. She said illiteracy is at the core of many problems that plague Memphis, such as poverty.
“Illiteracy is a root cause of crime, infant mortality, unemployment, low voter registration, and many other problems that result from poverty,” Yellin said. “When we talk about the importance of education, we never mention the fate of those who don't get and education in which they learn to read. And it's not just about books. It's about reading street signs, job applications, medicine bottles, street addresses, and numbers.”
According to Literacy Mid-South, a 2006 survey revealed Memphis was ranked seven of the 10 Least Literate U.S. Cities and approximately 33 percent of its adults read at or below a third grade level; 41 percent have less than a High School diploma or GED.
Literacy Mid-South’s main goal is to help change the city’s literacy rate by teaching students how to read, write, calculate, solve problems, and access and use technology.
Sallie Johnson, chief operating officer of Literacy Mid-South, said she feels that the organization is invaluable in the Memphis community.
“I think people don’t really think about how illiteracy or the lack of literacy skills underlies all of the social problems facing this community,” Johnson said.
The organization was created in January 2010 after Mid-South Reads and the Memphis Literacy Council merged.
It offers various learning courses to students, but there are three that stick out of the bunch.
One of the courses, Learning Skills, teaches students the basic forms of literacy. The latter two are Traditional Adult Basic Education courses, which include reading, spelling, math, and grammar; and Pre-GED courses, which enable students to prepare for the actual GED test.
Daniel owns a painting business, and he said being illiterate has made it somewhat challenging to discuss business matters with customers.
“If I knew how to read well, I wouldn’t have to ask homeowners to help me write receipts or get my wife to help me,” he said. “I could do it myself.”
Bertha, a 71-year-old house cleaner, also wants this freedom. She has been coming to Literacy Mid-South for two years. Bertha has struggled with reading since a kid and currently reads on a sixth grade level.
“When I’m around people in church and other places, I get tense,” she said. “I don’t like talking around a bunch of people. It makes me nervous.”
Johnson has an ambitious goal for Literacy Mid-South—to help the city obtain a 100 percent literacy rate.
“It doesn’t occur to us, what our life would be like, if we couldn’t read,” Johnson said. “We certainly wouldn’t be in the position we’re in.”
Emily Yellin, a published author and a former writer for the New York Times, is also a Literacy Mid-South board member. She said illiteracy is at the core of many problems that plague Memphis, such as poverty.
“Illiteracy is a root cause of crime, infant mortality, unemployment, low voter registration, and many other problems that result from poverty,” Yellin said. “When we talk about the importance of education, we never mention the fate of those who don't get and education in which they learn to read. And it's not just about books. It's about reading street signs, job applications, medicine bottles, street addresses, and numbers.”
According to Literacy Mid-South, a 2006 survey revealed Memphis was ranked seven of the 10 Least Literate U.S. Cities and approximately 33 percent of its adults read at or below a third grade level; 41 percent have less than a High School diploma or GED.
Literacy Mid-South’s main goal is to help change the city’s literacy rate by teaching students how to read, write, calculate, solve problems, and access and use technology.
Sallie Johnson, chief operating officer of Literacy Mid-South, said she feels that the organization is invaluable in the Memphis community.
“I think people don’t really think about how illiteracy or the lack of literacy skills underlies all of the social problems facing this community,” Johnson said.
The organization was created in January 2010 after Mid-South Reads and the Memphis Literacy Council merged.
It offers various learning courses to students, but there are three that stick out of the bunch.
One of the courses, Learning Skills, teaches students the basic forms of literacy. The latter two are Traditional Adult Basic Education courses, which include reading, spelling, math, and grammar; and Pre-GED courses, which enable students to prepare for the actual GED test.
Daniel owns a painting business, and he said being illiterate has made it somewhat challenging to discuss business matters with customers.
“If I knew how to read well, I wouldn’t have to ask homeowners to help me write receipts or get my wife to help me,” he said. “I could do it myself.”
Bertha, a 71-year-old house cleaner, also wants this freedom. She has been coming to Literacy Mid-South for two years. Bertha has struggled with reading since a kid and currently reads on a sixth grade level.
“When I’m around people in church and other places, I get tense,” she said. “I don’t like talking around a bunch of people. It makes me nervous.”
Johnson has an ambitious goal for Literacy Mid-South—to help the city obtain a 100 percent literacy rate.
“It doesn’t occur to us, what our life would be like, if we couldn’t read,” Johnson said. “We certainly wouldn’t be in the position we’re in.”