Assignment 2: Kozol's article “The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society” identifies the serious problems that impact the lives of those who cannot read. What are the consequences of illiteracy on a societal, rather than individual, level in Canada? Although Kozol refers to the United States, there are enough similarities between these two democracies that you can select specific examples and concepts from the text that apply to Canada, along with any common knowledge about Canada that you might have .
Jonathan Kozol’s “The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society”: Consequences of illiteracy on a societal level in Canada
Outline
Illiteracy a wide spread issue. The Human cost of an Illiterate Society goes over examples and details of being illiterate. Consequences as a social level could be:
Undermine democracy
Illiterates seldom vote, would be forced to vote on what they see in pictures
Devalues democracy since Government is not for or with the people
Slow development of a economy and country
Education creates jobs, need literacy for any position
Illiteracy could be passed on to the child. The parent would not know how to teach the child. Would avoid asking for help because of humiliation for the child and themselves
Legal complications
Signing documents without knowledge
One party taking advantage over another with no room for bargaining power.
Illiteracy is an epidemic amongst citizens in Canada and the United States. In Jonathan Kozol’s “The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society” elaborates on issues of illiteracy in the United States, and this matter would also be apparent in Canada. This epidemic negatively affects and impacts individuals and the society as a whole. Consequences of illiteracy on a societal level undermine democracy of a government, slow and/or lack of development of a country and legal complications.
As a Canadian or U.S. citizen, people have a right of...