Why Literacy Is Important Essay

Reading: somewhere, somehow it is all around us. Everyone learned to read through different methods and sources. As I grew up, education was not a question. I was taught to focus on school and everything else would fall into place. I knew that I would attend college and be given the opportunity to have a great education. However, other people are less fortunate than I have been. Minorities and people living in poverty cannot afford to read books and expand their knowledge. This hurts them as they age and causes them to fall behind in school. Literacy is very important to our culture, as it affects how our country is ran and decisions that are made in state and national offices. In my younger years, my parents would read to me often. They thought it was critical for me to be exposed to literature at a young age. It was not long before I read my first book. I was introduced to many Dr. Seuss books. Therefore, it was no surprise that Green Eggs and Ham was the first book I read by myself. From then on I progressed into my favorite series of books, Magic Treehouse. These books followed two kids, Jack and Annie, who discover a treehouse with magical powers. They travel back in time to the dinosaurs, mummies, and ice age. They also traveled to
different places such as the African Savannah, the Wild West, and the North Pole to help solve mysteries for the great Morgan le Fay. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this series because it was informing as it was not all made up. It also included a mystery element that kept me interested and wanting to keep reading. Then, I started to read The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mystery Series. These novels featured the protagonists getting caught up in a crime. They had to use hints and clues from witnesses and relatives to help solve the mystery. Usually, the characters were caught and kidnapped by the antagonist and would have to escape. Beginning in middle school I started to lose interest in reading. The teachers began to assign novels that did not interest me and it seemed to be a chore to read instead of a joy. However, because of my early upbringing in literacy, I was still able to succeed in these classes. As the years progressed, English became my least favorite subject and I was relieved when I had finished my last English course. Literacy is a very important topic in today’s society. Children under five years old have the most learning capabilities. Their brains are constantly growing and suck up information like a dry sponge. We should capitalize on this and read to our children often to get them thinking at an early age. However, a task like this needs time, effort, and money from both schools and parents. Poverty stricken neighborhoods and minorities do not have the resources to teach their kids to read. They either do not know to read books to babies, or they do not have the money to buy books for their children. When this happens the children become deficient and they fall behind. This is not productive for society or the child. Literacy is also important because it educates us.
Frederick Douglass, a black slave during the 1800’s, eventually became free and aided in the abolitionist movement. He could not read for some time. However, one of his slave masters’ wife taught him how to read. This made Frederick Douglass realize that the slaves who were uneducated did not know the predicament they were in and the opportunities that they had available to them. By being literate, Douglass saw the world differently and yearned to escape the shackles of slavery for a free life up North. By becoming cognizant of the importance of literacy, Douglass left slavery and became a leader in the abolitionist movement to help others escape
slavery. I believe that segregating a city by race affects the way children become literate. In Tuscaloosa, for example, most white people live north of the Black Warrior River or south of Interstate 20 headed towards Moundville. Most African Americans however, live in West End, which is the area west of Interstate 359 and south of the river. They also live throughout downtown Tuscaloosa. As a result, most of the Tuscaloosa City Schools are composed of African Americans. Many teachers do not want to work there and the school system is forced into lesser quality teaching. Therefore, the students receive a lower quality education and are not as prepared as their county school counterparts. As I go forward in life, I plan to use my past challenges to help me succeed. Since I was taught the value of education and its usefulness, I am prepared for whatever may come my way. As a student at the University of Alabama, I see myself tutoring underclassmen and leading study groups. When I transition to adulthood, I will use my skills to be a phenomenal employee. I aspire to ascend the ladder and one day lead and look over others. I also will apply what I have learned to become a great husband to my wife and put our children on a great path for a successful future. Finally, I hope to one day be able to coach baseball and transform our youth to not only be better athletes, but better people. Without literacy our country would not be where it is today. We could not read voting ballots at the polls to select our next president, senator, or governor. We would not be able to talk to each other and carry on a conversation. We would not be able to ready road signs, purchasing labels, or succeed in school and the workforce. In conclusion, literacy is extremely important in our country to be a successful person and accomplish the things we want to do.