The retention factor of literacy must be the target variable in any projection of literacy programs of the future. Further, the success of literacy programs of the future is contingent upon the resolution of three major problem areas: (1) the concept of literacy; (2) the programs of literacy; and (3) the politics of literacy. A concept of literacy…

A study investigated the nature and extent of adult illiteracy and the characteristics of the less literate populations in Philadelphia. Data were collected through 2,197 telephone interviews and 607 personal interviews. The personal interviews involved use of a modified version of the instrument developed by the National Assessment of Educational…

During the first half of the 1980s, the focus of the literacy movement was on strengthening literacy programs through the recruitment of volunteers. Although these early efforts are continuing, the focus in adult literacy has changed. Job-related or workplace literacy has become a national priority, and the impact of adult illiteracy on private…

This document contains a collection of direct quotations from the nearly 50 participants at a roundtable on workplace literacy. It also includes an executive summary, a list of participants, a list of related publications, and a synopsis of a presentation made at a follow-up activity.) The participants included business people, literacy experts,…

This document from the task force charged with assessing Wisconsin's adult illiteracy problem and recommending what to do about it reports that the state has 492,720 residents who are at or below the level of functional illiteracy and another 412,720 considered to be "at-risk" due to the increased demand for higher-level basic skills in…

The Functional Literacy Project of India was initiated in 1967 as part of a joint program, involving several Indian government ministries and United Nations agencies, to train some five million farm families in both literacy and modern agricultural skills at the same time. This report first describes the beginnings of the project and its…

Functionally illiterate adults differ in several ways from children in a learning setting: they have a broader range of experience, they are more rigid and resistant to change, they know what they want from education, they are free to drop out at any time, they may have a long history of failure, they want to see immediate and visible progress,…

The position that the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) provides a data base that is compatible with various definitions of literacy and standards of competencies and can make a contribution to our understanding of the complex and controversial problem of literacy is supported in this paper. The paper notes that since the NAEP has…

Sixteen volunteer aides living in inner city Milwaukee were selected according to education (a high school diploma), age (21 years or older), experience working with people, dependability, and availability. They were divided into four groups, and each group was assigned an instructor from the Marquette University reading staff. Ten weekly training…

Discussed are: overall objectives, nature and scope of the functional literacy and continuing education programs, personnel, and program implementation. (Author/SP)

Before specific role of the public library in eradicating illiteracy can be determined, each library must determine the extent of the problem in its community; determine what is already being done; and analyze the library's resources. Specific involvement and goals must be determined for services to teachers and students. (EJS)

Reports on a study that examined the literacy behavior of 132 elderly Blacks in a large city environment with a high concentration of undereducated adults. Found that the group developed the necessary literacy skills to meet the demands of their social environment. (JOW)

Literacy education is modeled along a continuum moving from a technical conception of literacy to a conception of literacy as praxis, or critical literacy. These competing models are contrasted, and special emphasis is given to one adult basic literacy organization that is managing to humanize the process. (Author/BJV)

A study of six women in an Australia literacy program at the Springvale Community Health Centre suggests that there are dangers in defining literacy needs in terms of economic productivity. Issues of self-worth and social support are also addressed. (Contains 19 references.) (LB)

A framework for a competency rating scale combines types of literacy (reading, writing, numeracy, and document processing) and literacy levels (basic and required). Indicators of the competencies derived from individual behavior show whether the competency is fully established, just developing, or absent. (SK)