We are the lucky ones. We live in the most powerful country in the world. Most of everyone owes a television set; a vast majority has a radio and an ever increasing number owes and operates a computer. Despite all the wealth and power we find here, at home, the general consensus among Americans is that the United States is the host of many illnesses of which Illiteracy is one of the fastest growing, and one of the most damaging ones, even though there is a Literacy Campaign in place, and President Clinton has declared that illiteracy needs to end by the year 2000. However, in order to truly measure the consequences of illiteracy to business and individuals, the opposite has to be measured as well. This will be done later on this essay.

Taken literally from the dictionary, illiteracy has two definitions: 1. the quality or state of being illiterate; esp: inability to read or write 2. a mistake or crudity (as in speaking) typical of one who is illiterate. Even though these are two simple definitions, they are very different from the definition given to it by the National Adult Literacy Survey. “Using printed and written information to function in society, to achieve one’s goals, and to develop one’s knowledge and potential.”

Taking in consideration the above definitions, an observation has to be made: The results of the studies on the subject are based on the National Adult Literacy Survey’s definition, and partially on definition two of the dictionary; completely omitting definition number one of the dictionary. There are many different ways to separate the degree of illiteracy (or the functionally illiterate) from one person to another. Several examples of people who fall under these different definitions are: those individuals who are born in the U.S.; the ones who have come to the U.S. as adults and are fluent in their own language; and those who are from other parts of the world and are illiterate in their own language.

The latter group has not been taken into consideration while conducting the studies. They have been omitted mainly because they have chosen not to participate due to their legal status in the U.S. If they were taken into account the final numbers would be higher and the degree of illiteracy more poignant.

Several resources have gone to fighting drugs and crime. However, when taking a closer look at the issues of drugs and crime, it can be seen that they are very closed related to illiteracy. Year by year, the number of individuals who do not know how to read and write, or who are partially able to accomplish these simple tasks, increases by leaps and bounds, endangering the future of the U.S. as this problem has “snowball” consequences directly affecting the future of our children and future generations.

Furthermore, the majority of Americans, despite their background, do not see themselves as part of the problem. They view their lives as being well prepared to manage their lives and theirs jobs with no assistance, even though as per the Adult Literacy Survey they qualify as partially illiterate.

In 1993, the U. S. Department of Education conducted The National Adult Literacy Survey (ASL) with astonishing results. The survey shows that 23% (or 40-44 million) adults were at the lowest of the five levels used to determine literacy among the people of this nation; 25%-28% (or 50 million) adults were at the second lowest level. They had a very small repertoire. What this report shows is that there are 90 million people who are functionally illiterate. A person who is functionally illiterate is the person who can perform only basic tasks, such as writing their names and addresses, but are not capable of performing tasks requiring a more precise type of basic skill.

The Office of Technology Assessment (OAT) an analytical arm of U.S. Congress, stated in a 1993 report about functional illiteracy: “Standards and requirements for literacy have increased over time and a large number of adults need to improve their literacy skills. OAT finds that at least 35 million adults have difficulty with common literacy tasks. Although many of these adults can read at rudimentary levels, they need higher levels of literacy to function effectively in society, to find employment or to be trained for new jobs as the workplace changes...Fewer than 10% of the population in need is being reached. As per this report, approximately 90% are being left adrift to fend for themselves and to make the best out of their circumstances, which by the way, leaves them hanging from a very thin thread.

The Department of Labor conducted their own study, coming up with equally alarming facts. Illiteracy in 1996 is considered to have cost approximately $225 billion per year in lost productivity to business and to the nation. This includes, illnesses, tardiness, mistakes, and other host of illnesses which comprise some of the symptoms of functional illiteracy.

Even though these statistics are very high, a special note has to be made pointing to the hardships a female goes through at work when not properly prepared for the work force. Not only does she has to endure the treatment of being considered a minority, her salary is already lower than her male counterpart, but she also has to be prepared with an adequate education. This situation makes her survival tougher than her male counterpart, especially because a female cannot perform certain tasks which can mask lack of education on their counterparts such as construction worker, heavy machine operator, and jobs requiring extreme physical effort.

Even though a small increase in literacy is noted, the obvious fact is that the statistics are nationwide. These numbers reflect that small strides have been made every day in order to educate the nation. None of these reports account for the number of children who are currently in high school (or other grades in school) and fall under the category. For whatever the reason, some of these children suffer greatly as a consequence of their environments. The numbers from the Laubach Network report corroborate the reports from the U. S. Department of Education and the Labor Department and gives a sad glimpse to the condition of education in America.

The influx of people into the United States is greater than 35,920 nationwide, per year. These numbers translate to a very minimal fraction of people immigrating from other countries who are learning the language of their new place, and for this reason alone, they fall under the illiteracy category. For those immigrants who are currently residing in the U.S. fear is a factor in not taking advantage and prevents them from participating in any of the ESL programs currently offered. It is impossible for these individuals to provide any kind of guidance to the children as they, as parents, do not know (or do not care) that they are illiterate.

The State recognizes that successful individual education starts at a very young age, and not when the individual is an adult. Therefore, special programs such as Arts’’ classes are encouraged by the School Board. Los Angeles is one of the most prolific states where arts are abound. By approving $2.45 million in seed money, the Los Angeles School Board hopes to improve the education in the state. In contrast to the positive impact of the reinstatement of art classes in Los Angeles, the School Board has to contend with the lack of care some of its’ schools have shown towards education and the future of the State by having to justify and accept its short comings in educational programs, adding to the list, the uncomfortable position of being exposed as uncaring towards its students as bilingual education has become a double edge tool for the tax payers in California.

It cannot honestly be said that education is not a “roller-coaster ride” in the State. In one school lack of care can be seen at the same time that in another school we find a small rise in education. This comes in the way of increased academic abilities of the school students, even though it is not up to the nation’s standards. To further the contrast, opposites can be found within the same ratio of information as it can be observed that a disabled person can finish school with good accomplishments and the hope of a bright future while a group of students take to protest Proposition 227 bringing to the table of discussion the question of “What is The Real Why of a Failing Education System.” and after all “bickering” is almost completed, the real why is still up in the air or up in smoke.

Most of us look up to the Government and demand that they do something about it (and they have). States have implemented programs that deal with these issues and sometimes (in the case of illiteracy programs) rely on volunteers who take time out of their busy life and schedules to contribute not only to the program, but in making their State a better place to live, and helping to provide individuals with the basic tools needed for the attainment of a better life.

There are other ways to solve the problems. Allegedly the system has failed an individual, what can an adult do to better his/her life? “Educate Themselves” by becoming part of special programs to develop more skills. In some instances, Affirmative Action may be the help a person needs to succeed. And some times, in the presence of education, gender and native soil or heritage are no obsticles that an individual has to become.

Even though private education is not a sure way to ensure success in life, it is a better choice for those who can afford it. However, parent intervention, once again, is very important. It has to be kept in mind that parent help and intervention is always a must regardless of the school being public or private. Parents wsho can afford private schooling for their children are economically better off than those who can’t. In order to help these parents, “a bill giving tax breaks to parents who send their children to private schools cleared the Senate...”

One of them, the one I have chosen, is for those who are willing and able to do so, to volunteer as a tutor. Tutoring is an activity which can be found in every school, and college throughout the State. The Public Libraries also provide this service to no cost for those who do need to learn basic skills in life. Our own college provides us, as students, with a tutoring center wherein we can find the help we need in becoming more literate and more able to function in the world.

The demand for better educated and better trained people is in the rise. People who see this demand are spending most of their resources and time helping individuals to achieve the levels needed for a better survival in the work environment and life.

By becoming a tutor, we stop being part of the problem and immediately become part of the solution.