The Literacies Institute: Its mission, activities, and perspective on literacy

Bruce, Bertram C.; Gee, James Paul; Michaels, Sarah

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/43865 Copy

Description

Title

The Literacies Institute: Its mission, activities, and perspective on literacy

Author(s)

• Bruce, Bertram C.
• Gee, James Paul
• Michaels, Sarah

Issue Date

1989

Keyword(s)

• Literacies
• Literacy
• Discourse
• Multicultural

Abstract

Literacy is a prerequisite for full participation in a modern, technological society. For the nation, broad-based literacy is a prerequisite for the effective functioning of democratic institutions at home and for continued competitiveness in an increasingly complex world. We think of the United States as a highly literate nation, and in the sense that nearly all citizens can read and write at a minimal level, it is. But full literacy implies far more than basic reading and writing proficiency. It implies an enculturation into ways of thinking, interpreting, and using language in a variety of complex activities and settings, typical of a rapidly changing and technologically advanced society. Moreover, it implies that this enculturation is widespread throughout the population. In both these senses, the U.S. is only partially literate.

Publisher

Education Development Center

Series/Report Name or Number

The Literacies Institute, Technical Report No. 1

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/43865

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