Aliteracy
Overview
Definition: An aliterate is someone who can read, but chooses not to.
Resources
- The No-Book Report: Skim It and Weep
A Washington Post article concerning aliteracy. "More and More Americans Who Can Read Are Choosing Not To. Can We Afford to Write Them Off?" - Fewer People Make Time for Literature, NEA Study Shows
"Reading novels, short stories, poetry or plays is a declining activity among all adults, with the youngest segments of the American population showing the most disinterest in the literary world." - What is Aliteracy?
"Many organizations exist to help illiterates, those who CANNOT read. A related phenomenon, however, has emerged in the past two decades. More and more people who CAN read, are simply not reading (or not reading much). This is especially true of well-educated people. Individuals are increasingly skimming texts, drawing conclusions from dust jackets, or simply resorting to audio books." - Aliteracy's Implications
"Additionally, aliteracy breeds illiteracy. Aliterate students (yes, there are many) leave school not wanting to read and chances are they won't model a healthy reading environment for their own children. Many homes now contain few, if any, books - unless you count mail order catalogs. I encourage you to start noticing these tell-tales of aliteracy. - Should Our Graduates Be Able to Read? [pdf]
"More so than ever before, our students have to be prepared to be life-long learners if they are to succeed in a world that will require them to have several different jobs before they retire. Good reading skills are essential to a people's ability to "reskill" themselves. Without well-developed readings skills, students will have little chance of long-term success. Historical analysis of educational requirements in society clearly indicates that demands for literacy continually increase."
Books
- Aliteracy: People Who Can Read but Won't by Nick Thimmesch
This seems to be a book worth looking into as it's credited quite a bit, but I can't find a description of this book at all. It's also hard to find. Amazon is the only seller I could find that had it in stock.
