Helping with illiteracy

Two million native speakers of English in California are functionally illiterate. Functional illiteracy is defined as an inability to read, write and communicate in English on levels necessary to function on the job. In fact, the entire population of the United States ranks 49th out of 156 nations in literacy.

Shocking? Yes. The dropout rate in our high schools and overall educational standards are the recipients of the most of the blame. But the facts are still the facts, and the cost to our society, and to the individuals who must suffer an inability to read properly, is immeasurable.

Can something be done about it? Yes.

One of the ways is through the Literacy Program at the Newport Beach Public Library. Its mission states that it is “a program designed to encourage and assist adult learners who wish to improve their basic reading, writing and speaking skills.” The program is available to all adults in Orange County who need assistance in improving their reading and writing skills which, for whatever reason, were not fully developed. It also helps foreign-born individuals who speak English but need to improve their skills to work and enjoy life more fully in this country.

The program at Newport Beach Central Library was established in 1986 and is an accredited affiliate of ProLiteracy America. It is responsible for training over 50 volunteer tutors and serves more than 120 adult learners annually.

The program provides learning materials in print as well as computer-aided training in reading and writing and life skills. Such skills include preparation for tests like the GED high school equivalency or the Motor Vehicle License Test. The staff also works with local businesses, who, seeing the obvious benefit of a fully literate workforce, want to establish in-house literacy programs.

Since the program is designed to serve an individual in need, the program is set up as a one-on-one tutoring course. This provides the enrollee with complete confidentiality and the continuity of a personal helper. The testimonies of those who have volunteered for the program over its nearly 20 years of operation are deeply moving and inspirational. To bring someone who has struggled all his or her life with not being able to read (and with having to hide the fact) is a magnificent accomplishment.

For anyone who is interested in volunteering as a tutor and, thus, having a direct and important effect on our community, there is an orientation session coming up on Friday. The two-hour program will be held in the Friends of the Library meeting room at the Central Library, beginning at 10 a.m. This session will cover the problems of illiteracy and why adults seek help. They will also discuss the responsibilities and the training necessary to become a certified literacy tutor.

This orientation is then followed up by 12 hours of training classes to give the tutor the exact skills needed to start helping someone in our community. To sign up for the orientation, please phone (949) 717-3874 or send an e-mail to the Literacy Office at literacy@city.newport-beach.ca.us.

Jacques Demers, the former coach of the Montreal Canadiens and a general manager in the NHL, has recently made public the fact the he cannot write and could barely read. He has told his story in hopes that it will encourage others to come out of the darkness and the secrecy and seek help.

If you know of someone who needs help being fully literate, please send them to the Literacy Office at the Central Library. Help is nearby and so easy to get.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public Library. This week’s column is by Sara Barnicle. For more information on the Central Library or any of its branches, please call (949) 717-3800.