As the proverb goes, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Though it may seem cliché, the lesson still applies-- education is a powerful tool for job readiness, healthy living, and financial stability.
However, the truth is that adult low literacy is a hidden issue. It is often unseen, unheard, and unknown. But still, 1/5th of all Tarrant County adults cannot pass basic literacy tests. That is why we are working to increase public awareness of the extraordinary value of an education and the necessity to promote a literate society - to let you, city council members, business leaders, and elected officials know that this is an important issue affecting us all. Contact your elected officials to let them know this issue is important to you.
"Literacy arouses hopes, not only in society as a whole but also in the individual who is striving for fulfillment, happiness and personal benefit by learning how to read and write."
-UNESCO Institute for Education.
Learning is not a barrier in life, but a life-long process that removes barriers. This lesson is often a new idea for adult learners. Teachers in Tarrant County often speak of a new mindset and perspective for adults who have long struggled with not being able to read, speak English, or calculate simple math problems. When an adult first realizes that he or she possesses the ability to succeed in class, when they may have struggled for years and years in school or at work, a spirit of empowerment is born.
Adult literacy "is a core social issue that if we could fix as a nation, we would make inroads into fixing many other social problems."
-David Harvey, ProLiteracy
Tarrant Literacy Coalition participates in awareness activities to renew our effort to promote literacy and demonstrate our commitment to providing education for adults. Every year, on Septemeber 8th, the Coalition joins individuals, organizations, and countries in celebrating International Literacy Day. Declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Literacy Day is a wonderful way to recognize the importance and impact literacy has on all of our lives.
"An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."
-Benjamin Franklin
P.O. Box 470744 Fort Worth, TX 76147 • Phone: (817) 870-0082
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