Posted on 09/09/2004 10:09:38 AM PDT by BurbankKarl
Continued immigration and a stubborn high school dropout rate have stymied efforts to improve literacy in Los Angeles County, where more than half the working-age population can't read a simple form, a report released Wednesday found. Alarmingly, only one in every 10 workers deemed functionally illiterate is enrolled in literacy classes and half of them drop out within three weeks, said the study by the United Way of Greater Los Angeles.
"It's an emergency situation," said Mayor James Hahn, adding that poor literacy rates could jeopardize the region's economy by driving out high-tech businesses and other industries that pay well.
In the Los Angeles region, 53 percent of workers ages 16 and older were deemed functionally illiterate, the study said.
That percentage dropped to 44 percent in the greater San Fernando Valley -- which includes Agoura Hills and Santa Clarita -- but soared to 85 percent in some pockets of the Valley.
The study measured levels of literacy across the region using data from the 2000 Census, the U.S. Department of Education and a survey of literacy programs taken from last September to January.
It classified 3.8 million Los Angeles County residents as "low-literate," meaning they could not write a note explaining a billing error, use a bus schedule or locate an intersection on a street map.
And despite hundreds of millions of dollars spent in public schools over the past decade to boost literacy rates, functional illiteracy levels have remained flat because of a steady influx of non-English-speaking immigrants and a 30 percent high school dropout rate, authors of the report said.
The last available national study was conducted in 1992 by the National Adult Literacy Survey, which found that 48 percent of the nation's working-age population was functionally illiterate.
"This is a ticking time bomb, a dirty secret we don't want to talk about. We are losing the battle," said Mark Drummond, chancellor of California's community college system.
Dozens of community-based groups, including the Literacy Network of Greater Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Unified School District and other public agencies vowed to improve programs over the next five years by connecting English learners with employers and educating 1,000 workers with English-language deficiencies during the next two years.
A top priority should be making classes more accessible. For example, the report found that no school in the county offered Saturday classes or tailored classes for adult students with families or multiple jobs.
And while nearly 90 percent of adults take literacy classes to improve their employment opportunities, only 30 percent of literacy programs include the workplace in their instruction.
"It's appalling," said Marge Nichols, the author of the study. "A 50 percent dropout rate (for literacy classes) is pretty dysfunctional. We haven't kept up."
Though the report offers no estimate for the cost of functional illiteracy, the National Right to Read Foundation places the price tag nationally at $224 billion. And local observers say untold millions are being lost by would-be employers who move to other cities in search of highly skilled workers.
Before he enrolled in a literacy class at the North Valley Occupational Center, Adolio Gonzales, 29, was intimidated by filling out job applications or even going to an amusement park.
"I didn't want to go to Disneyland because I thought it was so complicated," said the Reseda resident, who waits tables at a Carrows restaurant and wants to become a computer programmer.
Gonzales emigrated from Guatemala seven years ago and taught himself to speak English by watching television programs.
But he often found himself confused by the simplest task, and had trouble filling out an application at a fast-food restaurant two years ago.
"The application asked why I wanted to work for this company and I didn't know what to answer," he said.
Then, he enrolled in the literacy class, which emphasizes the basics, like filling out forms and reading the newspaper.
"I feel comfortable now, like I can do anything."
This problem will go away as soon as Calif is reunited with the "mother country" Mexico.
Even, as of late, Bill Cosby.
Must have been just the ones who could understand the question in the first place to answer the survey.
that's the democrat plantation.
can you imagine immigrants of a century ago being cheated by the unions of the same party that they vote for?
Apparently 90 percent find a way, even without the "tailored classes".
Wrong headline. Should read: 47% can't read Spanish.
Well, you could have answered... BECAUSE THEY DON'T CHECK ON IMMIGRATION STATUS HERE!
How far away did you move and is it any better. I'm living the same situation in Texas and it is difficult.
For example, I bought a 2nd grade math workbook for my son at the local walmart. Got it home and started him on it and all the problems were (in English) but with a Mexican tilt. Instead of "cutting a pizza into 4 pieces" it was cut a tortilla!! All of the book was like this - only one example of the way that immigration, here most of it illegal, is changing our cities and our history.
The figure is 54% when judges and legislators are included.
It's not a secret to long-time CA residents. But don't worry. The Bush amnesty will take care of this problem.
BTW, back when CA was the Golden State, community college was free of charge.
bump
Et's awl Buchis falte!
Actually, most spanish-only speakers in L.A. can't read anything at all!
The Democrats have a plan to correct this. The rest of us will just have to learn Spanish.
It's shocking what can happen to a city over a ten year period. Dallas is turning into a giant barrio. I'd like to move my family farther north, thinking Great Lakes or Dakotas, in ten or so years. And a light goes off over head: "So THIS is how the Balkans happened."
It's what happened to Rome as well. They let in hundreds of thousands of 'barbarians', (foreignors), to work the farms and become soldiers. By the time they were attacked by the the rest of the 'barbarian' world it was too late to defend themselves, they had already been infiltrated and weakened, and the decadence was too much to overcome. History is definately repeating itlself in our own times, in our own country.
Let me guess...if a coyote leaves San Luis Potosi at 8 am traveling 10 mph, and a drug smuggler leaves Culiacan at 12 noon traveling 15 mph, which one gets to the border first?
I've lived in the San Fernando Valley for over 30 years, and your post is the gospel truth.
They can devour those 2" comic books, though.
There's a turd in the melting pot.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.