Most reading occurs as like a quiet stroll through the woods. Sometimes the woods are less than ideal, and you end up knee deep in puddles struggling to get through it. And then, there’s Mike Rose. Rose’s work cascades down upon you like being at the bottom of a waterfall.
This wasn’t my first time encountering Rose as an author, nor was it even my first time reading this particular chapter. “I Just Wanna Be Average” is not only one of my favorite readings, but also has a unique ability to relate to the reader. Perhaps this is due to the storytelling element rather than a strict literary critique, but the chapter still expresses ideas if the reader is willing to submerge.
Driven home by a few different sections, Rose explains how new facets of his life helped him develop. He beings with the chemistry set, moves on to his storytelling in the back of a truck, dances with the stars in the sky, and finally–with the help of a dedicated teacher–ends with his immersion into the literary world. All of these facets share a common bond in their ability to harbor creativity. Rose wasn’t a memorize the facts and regurgitate them later kind of learner, he preferred to allow his imagination to explore. This is the key to understanding literacy, as it applies to Mike Rose.
Literacy as it applies here opens up Rose’s world. It is the idea that the experimental is good. Literacy breeds the idea; better a fabulous failure than a boring success. It encourages the those willing to try new things to push their boundaries. To truly be literate, one must first be willing to fail time and time again. We covered this in class when we talked about our frustrations learning to read. Rose also hits on this fact. He talks about how proficient he became at looking interested in a class. Rose also explains the normal defense mechanism of daydreaming to alleviate pressure. What Rose doesn’t do is praise these thoughts. Instead, he combats them by telling us stories of his success through his motivation. Thus, Literacy is the idea of struggle, to better oneself and expand your world.
Now, while I’m fairly certain that I’ll take some flak for this idea already. I made sure to bold the point of this ramble, simply to make it easier for people to identify my point and allow for discussion. Rather, what I’m trying to get at it seems is the question, “Do you agree and should the idea of literacy be surrounded by the struggle to learn while being surrounded by failure. Or would you prefer to think that literacy is a wholly inclusive idea which can be achieved by anyone.”
“Thus, Literacy is the idea of struggle, to better oneself and expand your world.”
I wish we had this as part of our definition on the first day of class. This is really powerful. I agree that with the struggle to become more literate there is bound to be failure and that should be embraced as it causes us to grow and expand ourselves as humans.
While I believe that every subject learned by humans is intertwined with struggle, I do believe that everyone is able to become “Literate”. I’m not sure if I am clearly understanding, but the basis for human learning, or any organisms learning is through trial-and-error. To take the science approach at this, evolution is based off the theory of fitness, and that the strongest will survive. As humans have been on earth, they have developed a use of language, and those who did not would have theoretically died out. Since we, as humans, been on earth for hundred of thousands of years, we should all have the ability to become literate at some sort of language, based off our genetic history.
I agree with the op and valjean that “Literacy is the idea of struggle.” However, I would not call Rose illiterate; the literacy Rose was trying to grasp was different than the literacy he was familiar with. This concepts also relates to the Akinnaso, in which the narrator had to struggle not only with literacy but also the means to achieve it.
I want to think of literacy as something that can be achieved by anyone, but I feel society in general considers a literacy as a struggle for something better that is often surrounded by failure. Like Rose mentioned, the teachers of the vocational track had low expectations for the students and therefore were unable to reach the same amount of literacy as someone in a higher track. To me, these teachers seemed to consider students in the vocational track as “failures” who were unable to keep up with the struggle of literacy. This also reiterates one of the main ideas made in the Brandt piece we read last week, in which the students in the high-track were taught critical thinking and how to be leaders while students in the low- track were taught manners and following orders. This seems like an inappropriate approach to the issue, and I think viewing literacy as something which can be achieved by anyone would benefit the students placed in lower tracks.
I do agree that the idea of literacy is accompanied by struggle and failure, (at least I hope that’s what you were saying). If you don’t try something, you can never get better at it. If you’re not good at something, there is a slight chance that you will fail at it. A person’s level of literacy doesn’t automatically start a genius. Unless there is work put in, (which is undoubtedly going to be accompanied by struggle and mistakes), there is going to be no gain. One has to be aware that work involves struggle, or else they are setting themselves up for failure that way. If someone approaches a task and thinks they are going to finish it perfectly, (which isn’t impossible, but not likely), then they are already setting themselves up for failure. I think what I’m rambling on to say is that nothing can be achieved without failure, or nothing can be achieved perfectly without failure. There can be no gain without struggle.
I agree wholeheartedly with this post. I found it particularly cool that literacy not only furthered his professional career, but it actually helped him become true to himself. After hanging out with Mr. MacFarland, Mike goes on to talk about how he went out and hung out at all the theaters and Bohemian places in the Area. I just think it’s really amazing that literacy can help you better yourself personally, instead of just academically or professionally.