Seated comfortably at a weekly Rotary Club meeting, we hear from the podium that Literacy Programs are among the projects encouraged by Rotary International, and that March is designated as Literacy Awareness Month. But we immediately turn our attention back to our salad and social conversation. "Illiteracy? Not a problem around here," we apparently assume. So it comes as a shock to realize that yes, we are challenged by the scope of functional illiteracy among us, and it's not limited to distant and less-developed societies.

     Cities and counties in the United States, with few exceptions, are revealed to have illiteracy rates above 20 percent. Although the "functionally illiterate" may attempt to disguise their limitations, they are handicapped in performance of many daily activities. They may not be able to read a help-wanted ad in the newspaper, or understand the label instructions on a bottle of medicine. Projecting their own shortcomings to the next generation, they do not read to their children, and by example they convey the impression that literacy is not a high priority.

     Years ago, and for some people even now, "literacy" was indicative of "the ability to read and write," simply that and nothing more. But in a rapidly emerging technological society, literacy has evolved to be far more than that. In predominantly agrarian societies of the past, the most important knowledge might have been how to feed and milk a cow, or how to manipulate a horse-drawn plow. No more, for now the successful farmer must be able to determine the pH value of soil, operate and maintain increasingly complex machinery, and follow market prices for crops.

     As younger generations abandon rural life for city employment, they encounter even higher expectations. It is no longer enough to be "willing to work." Meaningful employment requires at least high school education, but more likely a college or trade school preparation for skilled job opportunities. No more can they find access to the basic job of "digging ditches," for now that task requires the ability to operate heavy equipment, and to read plats identifying underground utility lines.

     A Canadian study concluded that their people with literacy problems have two-thirds the income of other Canadians, are twice as likely to be unemployed, and many times more likely to receive some form of social assistance. Indeed, the social impact of illiteracy has been directly correlated with poverty, crime, broken homes, teen pregnancy, health, and welfare costs.

     No wonder, then, that RI Presidents – past,, present, and future – have emphasized Literacy as a challenge for RRotarians. Glenn Estess told a Rotary audience that "in your own communities there are individuals who need some help to live a better life." Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar said it is necessary to "prevent children from becoming adults who cannot read, write, do basic arithmetic, or use a computer." Wilfrid Wilkinson has encouraged local clubs to "undertake literacy projects both at home and abroad." And Dong-Kurn Lee has already signaled that he will continue to promote Literacy projects, as "areas in which local Rotary Clubs can do the most good," and "in which we have experience and expertise."

     Rotarians, the "handwriting is on the wall." It is up to us to read it!

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