Reading is important. It is a skill that we use every single day.
Reading allows us to increase our vocabularies and imaginations. Books cause
us to feel emotions from joy to sadness, and everything in between. They allow us to raft down the
Mississippi River with Huckleberry Finn or stand by Harry Potter while he duels
the dreaded Voldemort. However, many Americans do not know what joy reading can bring to them.
A study done in 2003 showed that:
- 50 million Americans cannot read or comprehend above the 8th grade level.
- Existing literacy programs reach less than 10% of these people.
- The U.S. has a dropout rate of 29% compared to 5% in Japan and 2% in Russia.
- Illiteracy costs business in the U.S. $225 billion a year.
- 60% of prison inmates are illiterate.
- Almost 50% of adults who receive welfare are illiterate.
- Almost 75% of those who are unemployed are illiterate.
- Children of unemployed parents are 5 times more likely to drop out of school.
- Almost 90% of juvenile offenders are illiterate.
Information from The Communication Initiative Network "Illiteracy in the United States" March 24, 2003 by Chris Morry
Click Here for a list of Recommended Books Along With My Personal Favorites
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