LETTERS: Student addresses literacy benefits

Dear Editor:

In my time as a student intern at The READ Center, I have interacted with many diverse types of people. People of all ages with various levels of understanding how to read, including some who don’t know how to read at all. The one thing that all these people have in common is the drive and desire to learn, which to me, is the most important thing. The ability to read and write opens doors to knowledge and provides opportunities to enrich your personal and professional life.

I don’t personally know what happens in everyone's lives, but I do understand that there are many factors that may prevent somebody from learning how to read in their youth. I believe that even adults deserve to interact with a well-funded curriculum, which from my understanding, is even more important for adults to understand how to read. While some jobs may require a GED or high school diploma, all jobs require some level of literacy skills. Whether you're in construction, driving a bus, or managing a restaurant, being able to read and write is important for doing your job effectively.

Adult literacy includes critical thinking, which enables people to navigate the world in more complex ways. Being literate also makes for a more efficient democracy because people are able to make well-informed decisions and increase their participation in civic duties. The societal benefits of adult literacy also include a reduction in crime, poverty, and social inequality. As a society, we should make providing adult literacy services a priority so that we can break these cycles of injustice with intergenerational literacy to create a future where education flows naturally through communities.

Sincerely,
Bethany T.
Senior, Cristo Rey Richmond High School