Since 1992, literacy rates in the United States are down more than 25 percent since 1992. There are many contributing factors to literacy rate declines. But how is it that some kids are making it all the way to college now without having the most basic grammar and English skills? Other than a general dumbing down of society as a whole resulting from this very topic, it also has a clear impact on the future earning potential of today’s youth. Children who do not develop basic English, reading and writing skills are exposed eventually and have far less earning potential then their more learned peers. Here are just a couple of contributing factors to literacy rate declines.
1.) Teachers Pushing Kids Through The System- Teachers today are not paid very well in many areas and this has happened for a variety of reason. Somehow education falls down the ladder in importance to foreign wars and corporate bailouts. As a result, underpaid teachers really don’t want to deal with a troublesome child who can’t be bothered to read, do math, or even behave. At this point, a teacher is simply trying to limit that students influence on other children in hopes they don’t veer off the path to higher learning.
2.) Peer Pressure- Unfortunatley, it just isn’t cool to succeed in school to many kids. Their peers don’t respect good grades. What they seem to repect instead in getting over on the system and developing bad habits like smoking cigarettes behind the school and skipping classes. It is important for parents but also teachers as well to monitor the friend circles od promising younf students and keeping them on the path to future greatness.
Kids don’t see the long term implications of their actions. Truth be told they are just trying to get through the day and don’t think of the impact of their decisions down the road. It’s up to teachers and parents to guide their choices.