Tag Archives: Literacy

Borders Inside the Nation

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Literacy does not grant citizenship. Nor does it deny it. In fact, literacy should be held above these trivial issues and held upon the same level as critical thought. To be blunt, yes, reading incorrect grammar that switches in and out of the first person or that tosses around articles and verbs like a salad causes this aspiring English teacher to cringe. However, no matter the height of the horse being ridden, it would be careless to deem those same butchers as lower citizens. Literacy does not rely on one ubiquitous language, and it certainly doesn’t revolve around only English. This should lead to the obvious, an immediate divorce between Literacy and Citizenship.

The opposing side of every argument must be fully understood in order for an opinion to be drawn out. Thus, it must be understood that in the attempt to maintain a national identity, America has based its literacy tests on the native language of the country. This statement essentially says; If you want to live and prosper within OUR borders, vote in OUR elections, and be protected by OUR military, then you must be Literate in the English language. On top of all of this, in a world ruled by capitalism, the government places a hefty charge on the test. The idea is simple, assimilate and appease, or forfeit the basic rights given to those willing to do so.

It is odd that a country founded on immigration should receive new immigrants with such hostility. It is even more unusual that they should place such restrictions on these immigrants. The issue at hand however, remains to be Literacy. To these immigrants–in this system– Literacy means citizenship. Literacy is the gate to basic rights, and in collaboration with previous definition, Literacy becomes tough to obtain. This leads to the question, after understanding each side, where do you stand?

Blessed are the Literate, for they shall inherit the earth.

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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.”