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Edison Student Commentary
The Human Cost
of an Illiterate Society
By Savannah Hill
The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society is an essay that gives
information on the dangers of having an illiterate society and the
problems we face because of it. This essay attempts to describe the
incalculable moral price paid by people individually and by the nation
as a whole, as a result of illiterate Americans. The national Institute
for Literacy estimated that 22 percent of adult Americans, about 42
million people, could sign their name to a document but not find two
pieces of information in a newspaper article. Illiteracy cost taxpayers
about $20 billion per year in welfare, prison costs, workman’s
compensation, court costs, and many other things.
This essay also explains the problems we face because of illiterate
Americans voting. Most illiterate people vote for a face, a smile, or a
style, not for a mind. The number of illiterate adults exceeds by 16
million of the entire voting cast in the 1980 presidential contest. The
writer believes that if illiterate Americans were unable to vote, then
Ronald Reagan most likely would not have been chosen for president. The
writer also explains in this essay all of the struggles illiterate
people have to live with. They cannot read so they are unable to
properly make a frozen dinner, and cannot travel because they can’t
read street signs. Many illiterates do not have choices because they
cannot read a menu so they take what the server brings; illiterate
Americans usually have to rely on someone else, a friend, relative,
stranger, or grocery clerk to make their decisions for them. This essay
explains in good detail that illiterate Americans have very little
rights in their life and usually do not end up living an enjoyable life.
I believe that this was a well written essay for the most part. The
first few pages were a little confusing to me but once I continued to
read I started to understand better. I think that this is an essay that
everyone should read for many reasons. First this would help Americans
to not take for granted their education because they are able to
maintain a better life, and they have more rights because they can read
contracts, leases, and medical procedure papers. Also I think that we
should stop and take a little extra time to help people who are having
a hard time, because you never know the reason why the person is the
way he or she is. I would highly recommend this essay.
Editor’s Note:
Savannah Hill is a Composition I student at Edison State Community
College, Darke County Campus. The essay noted was written 32 years ago;
the illiteracy rate is currently at 14.5 percent. This opinion is being
published with permission, and chosen for CNO readers due to the
quality of the assignment submission and relevance of the topic. It
does not necessarily represent the opinion of County News Online or
Edison State Community College.
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