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Show .1. i. - ' i - I Literacy rote can be increased with adult 'shelp One of the messages educational reformers and critics of the public school systems consistently stress is that America's young people today are plagued with a high degree of illiteracy. illit-eracy. Horror stories tell of star athletes that graduate from high school who are unable to read or write. The school drop out rate is estimated at being at least 25 percent. Clerks in stores are unable to give correct change without the assistance of an automatic cash register. Student knowledge of geography and current affairs is believed by many to be substandard. Who is to blame for the illiteracy problem? Certainly, some of the responsibility must be rightfully as- j signed to the school system. Equally to blame are the adults in our society that don't support sup-port education by finding out what is being taught in the schools and that do little to improve their own intellectual skills. Literacy is a term that encompasses reading, writing, speaking speak-ing and thinking. These skills are the keys to a successful life. When was the last time you read a book, wrote a letter, spoke in a gathering outside your home or totalled a column of figures without the assistance of a handy pocket calculator? Most adults are as apathetic and poorly informed as the school-aged child. Is it possible to turn the television off for one entire day and survive? The possibilities to develop a high degree of literacy is I greater today than ever before. Each week, this newspaper lists I dozens of announcements for community programs that are I often free that will stimulate and educate adults in the arts, lit- erature, manual arts skills, computer training and many other areas. - Have you ever taken a class offered through the Davis District Community School program or the University of Utah Division of Continuing Education? These courses are often of an "open enrollment" nature. You study independent of others in the class and advance, with the help of an instructor, at your own rate of speed. Adult education classes can be intellectually stimulating, fun or helpful. Classes offered range from small engine repair and woodworking to aerobics and square dancing. Advanced classes and refresher classes in solid subjects like math, English and foreign languages can help a person brush up on forgotten skills or earn credit towards a degree. Have you visited the Davis Area Technical Center? The programs offered through this publically-supported school are outstanding. ' What about PERC (Parent Education Resource Center)? A person needs all the help they can get to succeed at parenting. PERC offers classes that are most helpful along with a good supply of the latest literature dealing with child behavior. Another source of literacy improvement is the USU Extension Exten-sion service. The horticultural farm in Fairnington is the site for many free or inexpensive classes dealing with gardening. The extension service offers classes that are designed to help the individual become more proficient in home-centered skills. Regular visits to city council, county commission or school board meetings are excellent ways to develop an understanding understan-ding of the operations of a democratic government. Have you ever attended a local government meeting just to learn and observe? Many clubs, leagues and societies sponsor lectures, seminars sem-inars and programs that feature experts in music, writing, history, painting etc. Seldom do these informative programs attract at-tract more than the organization's officers and a few devoted members. Illiteracy is a national problem. The challenge to turn things around lies more with adults than it does the school system or the students. Why not resolve before the first of the year to enroll in a class, attend a lecture, visit the library or observe a city council meeting? |