As many as 70 million Americans are functionally or marginally illiterate. Among the consequences: disproportionate numbers of illiterates are unemployed, 50 percent of inmates are illiterate, and illiterate parents are more likely to raise illiterate children. (SK)

Suggestions are offered for incorporating George Herbert Mead's ideas on the structure of literacy instruction, the use of volunteer tutors, student assessments, and instructional activities. (JOW)

An assistant superintendent describes his experience teaching Jay, an intelligent, learning-disabled 47-year-old forestry technician to read and write beyond the third grade level. Like young readers, adults must convince themselves they are capable of progress before any can be made. Jay now reads at sixth grade level and is still progressing.…

Describes the background of Literacy Canada-Laubach, a voluntary agency working toward 100 percent literacy, as well as Canadian research on adult illiteracy and the background of political support for this issue. Makes eight specific recommendations to the Canadian government on such topics as a National Literacy Council, funding, and materials…

Highlights concerns reading professionals might have regarding the use of volunteer tutors to attack the problem of adult illiteracy in a modern industrial nation. (HOD)

Postsecondary institutions should participate much more in the federal initiative, through their usual functions of teaching, research, and service. Activities could include involving college students in adult literacy education through demonstration programs, tutoring, and student volunteerism. (MSE)

This collection of selected reminiscences of a volunteer teacher in the Pennsylvania prison system recounts her experiences teaching illiterate and near-illiterate prisoners (and others) how to read. The collection describes several different individuals (in and out of prison), their diverse reactions to reading, and their understanding and use of…

Offers overview of reasons why libraries may choose to begin volunteer literacy program in their communities and the design and evaluation methodology that will enable them to make successful evaluation of programs. Highlights include soul-searching questions, planning guidelines and suggestions, and delineation of responsibilities (library staff,…

Noting that, generally, low-literate adults in Labrador and Newfoundland (Canada) are being helped only through the altruistic efforts of literate volunteers, this paper argues that adult literacy must be professionalized and become an integral part of the education system. The paper begins with a brief discussion of the definitions of literacy,…

The Taunton, Massachusetts, Literacy Corps (TLC) is a small adult literacy education program run by a part-time director using volunteer tutors. The program has always been hampered by a shortage of funds. There are often long waiting lists for persons needing tutors because funds are inadequate to recruit, train, and manage the number of…

After the Castro revolution of 1959, the new Cuban revolutionary government began a massive literacy campaign that taught 700,000 persons to read in about a year. Twenty years later, Nicaragua, facing an even more serious literacy problem, conducted a similar literacy campaign. In approximately six months, Nicaragua had reduced illiteracy by 37…

The current promotion of diversity encourages people from assorted backgrounds and mutual goals to find compatible but not necessarily identical ways to work together. Each literacy program will have a different need to expand its circle. It must consider all the characteristics that might widen its constituency, analyze all participants, and be…

It would be easy to forget at this point, given that Adult Literacy has attained a status and respectability within the Adult Education sector previously undreamt of, that it was once a movement, campaigning on a platform of human rights. This article discusses adult literacy's past and present from the perspective of the Adult Literacy…

Given the fact that adult citizens of non-English speaking background (NESB) in Australia are actual or potential bilinguals, this paper argues that developing or enhancing those bilingual literacy skills is beneficial to both individuals and Australian society as a whole. The viewpoint is based on a research project with NESB women. Barriers to…

This Congressional report contains testimony concerning reauthorization of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act, which authorizes and provides funding for the various national volunteer antipoverty programs, including Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), the Service Learning Programs, and Special Volunteer Programs. Included among those persons…