Literacy Debate

While education reform isn't a new movement in the American social and political scene, it has very much taken its place at the forefront of our national debate. If we're serious about equipping American students with the necessary tools for college and career readiness as is called for by the Common Core Standards, educators and policy makers need to align the definitions and interpretations of words and concepts that at one time in education seemed obvious, but have grown opaque with the advent and application of new technologies. One such concept is literacy.

Being a history teacher, as opposed to say a Language Arts teacher, I view reading and writing, the fundamental basis of "literacy," through a utilitarian lens. In other words, why was language and in turn the symbols that represent it created? Simply put, it was the need for humans to express their thoughts in a way that would be understood. As human thought advanced and became more nuanced it took advantage of new technology to spread information. Since then, we've advanced from the use of clay tablets with crude markings to communication that involves the use of various mediums, such as videos, songs, pictures and yes, text.

A recent article in the New York Times focuses on a growing debate over the value of this new literacy as it moves past its infancy to become an integral influence on the lives of the millennial generation. According to the article, traditionalists argue that "zigzagging through a cornucopia of words, pictures, video and sounds...distracts more than strengthens readers." They argue that reading books is central to "intellectual and emotional" rewards which cannot be attained through a "printout" or "at the touch of a finger." Are these critics accurate in their appraisal? I think not.

In the article, Deborah Konyk, whose daughter is used as an exemplar of modern readers, states that “Reading opens up doors to places that you probably will never get to visit in your lifetime, to cultures, to worlds, to people." I would argue that so would a Youtube video, and in a greatly more visceral way. In addition, I would argue that reading discussion forums, whether they are on dedicated discussion boards or supplements to articles or other digital entries, expose modern readers to exactly those elements Ms. Konyk seems to believe can only be attained through traditional texts.

If we look at literacy itself, apart from its tradiotnal or modern definitions, we can all agree upon its goal and the rewards it yields. As the world changes so must the concept of literacy acquisition through traditional literature. New technology is creating a new type of literacy, which is probably scary to academics who grew up around books. However, if the aim of literacy is the absorption of ideas why would the modern world, for the first time in its history, confine itself and not take advantage of new technology?

Work Cited:

               Rich, M. (2008, July 27). Literacy Debate: Online, R U Really Reading? New York Times. Retrieved September 23, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/books/27reading.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&