Throughout history, American women have had less access to education than their male counterparts. Because of discrimination based on traditional ideas of inferiority and subjection, female adult literacy rates did not even approximate male rates until well into the 19th century. The first important steps to improve the status of women were taken…

This report's major points are highlighted in two sections: Section One sets forth the rational, design, and intended use of the training monograph series, "Literacy in Development", which (1) has been commissioned by the International Institute for Adult Literacy Methods, (2) is to be used as the basis for the Institute's future training…

Presents words which appear in common signs in various geographical locations organized into "Words of Travel, "Words of Work and "Words of General Significance. (MB)

This document is a compilation of a variety of documents that were prepared to summarize and document the Policy Conversation on Workplace and Work Force Literacy that was held in Canada to give concerned individuals an opportunity to share their hopes, concerns, dreams, and visions about key issues in workplace literacy. The following documents…

In societies with rich oral traditions in which knowledge and wisdom are transmitted by way of mouth, through recitation, song and drama, the inability to read and write does not mean ignorance or lack of intelligence. Literacy is, however, essential for gaining legal and socioeconomic rights. Literacy campaigns should therefore involve changing…

As a result of a 1989 survey finding that 64 percent of Canadians aged 55-69 experience some degree of trouble with everyday reading material, One Voice, the Canadian Seniors Network, conducted a conference that brought together seniors, researchers, literacy project leaders, education professionals, community agencies and policy makers to examine…

This document summarizes the first New York State conference on adult education for the homeless. The conference addressed issues facing homeless people, such as education, social services, employment and training, housing, drug and substance abuse, and mental health. Successful programs, policies, practices, and the latest research were…

During the past 40 years, the definition of literacy and the needs of adult literacy education have changed. Before World War II, adult literacy programs usually focused on teaching totally illiterate adults to read and write at the simplest levels. Later, functional literacy at about the fifth grade level was promoted through the programs. Now,…

This Congressional hearing deals with the views of the private sector concerning adult illiteracy. Included among those organizations and firms represented at the hearing were the following: the Free Library of Philadelphia, B. Dalton Bookseller, the Hispanic Higher Education Coalition, Polaroid Company, Laubach Literacy Action, and the…

A study was conducted to find out about the people who conduct and work in adult literacy programs in New York City (NYC). Through a questionnaire distributed to NYC literacy practitioners working in programs operated by public libraries, the City University of New York, the New York City Board of Education, and community-based organizations, the…

The need for workplace skills upgrading has never been more acute. In Canada, many awareness-building initiatives for literacy have been started. The most successful efforts will probably be those based on a partnership model that links companies and unions with educators who understand adult learning styles. Before a workplace literacy program…

A study examined the feasibility of using television to promote adult literacy and adult basic education (ABE) in South Africa. Following a review of the literature on the experience abroad in using television to promote adult literacy, a preliminary report arguing the case for using television to promote adult literacy and ABE in South Africa was…

This issue, the second in a three-part series leading up to International Literacy Year in 1990, examines innovative mass efforts that reach out to the large numbers of people who have been bypassed by traditional approaches. The eight articles are the following: (1) "Towards an Agenda for Literacy" (H. S. Bhola) reports on developing an…

In response to the problem of adult literacy, the Michigan State Board of Education initiated a program to reduce the functional illiteracy rate among adults in the state significantly. This is to be accomplished by: (1) raising the level of awareness of the scope of illiteracy problems in the state; (2) developing comprehensive literacy programs…

As the literacy requirements for functioning in today's society continue to increase, so do the qualifications and level of professional development that is expected of those who provide literacy education to adults. Historically, it has been assumed that, with a modest amount of preparation, anyone can teach any other adult to read. Recently,…