Précis # 1 : Our view of Literacy

Graff, Harvey. "The Nineteenth-Century Origins of Our Times."The Legacies of Literacy. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1987. 340-70.
In the early 18th century literacy was controlled by morality. Education was a way to implement morals, patriotism, and knowledge. A social goal for literacy was established in the 19th century. Soon everyone, poor and rich, were allowed to attend school. Blacks and some poor were excluded. Some poor were excluded because they were seen as a threat, connected with vice and unlawfulness. The "optimist" believed that poor should be included in the educational system because it could supply to a more equal society. "Pessimists", which were the majority, encouraged "education for the poor to train them to accept their inferior status."
At this time the North and South were separated. The Northerners were significantly more literate than the Southerners. This gap mainly came from the difference in traditions and social realities. The Southerners were mainly all farmers and laborers which believed that schooling was not necessary for economic survival. Soon people started to take an interest in literacy because it would bring along economic advantages. But these economic advantages seemed to only be for men. Differences in jobs were not based on literacy levels but of ethnic and class discrimination.
Before long, print was introduced into the everyday lives of the people. Numerous amounts of periodicals, novels, newspapers, and pamphlets were being sold. People were mainly interested in reading "cheap" literature. Even though more people were involved in reading they were not considered literate. People were reading books with immoral issues. A huge problem with literacy was that people were able to read but could not comprehend what they were reading. Shortly in order to be considered literate people had to be able to enunciate and comprehend what they were reading.
Also, at this time African Americans were not allowed to be illiterate. They saw education as a way to gain freedom and respect. Withholding literacy from slaves only made them want it more. Slaves were very motivated in achieving literacy. Slaves taught themselves and others how to read with little resources. But even those who were free and achieved literacy were set back because of poverty and social and cultural differences.
The parts of the article that were especially insightful are were where Graff talks about the "literary myth". Many social classes believed that through literacy they could gain respect and higher wages. But even after gaining literacy they were set back because of their skin and social class. This article gave me an idea about how the view of literacy has changed over the yea

Response to Douglass post

Isn't it amazing what we can accomplish when we truly put our hearts AND minds into it. Like Susan said, here we have the audacity to "gripe" about how "hard" it is to learn with formal instruction, when Douglass was completely self taught! And what an amazing writer he is! It's truly touching to read about struggles that are overcome, and Douglass' struggles were two-fold!

Comment to Liz

I too felt sad for the parents, but sad for Rodriguez as well. The shame he felt by his parents lack of education was only intensified by his teacher who seemed condescending. It is hard for an ESL student to get help from their parents with school work when the parents can't or barely speak English, so it's admirable how well Rodriguez did throughout his school years. It's also sad though, that through the knowledge he gained, he "lost" a part of himself.

Autobiographical Essay #2

The first time a book really affected me in some way was in high school. Before high school I didn't really read and if I did I would just do that "read". I never really understood what I was reading. A book that I would read all the time in elementary school was The Giving Tree. This book was given to me from one of my aunts. My aunt was the one who started my collection of English books. Books were important in my childhood home but not English books. The only books that I owned were Spanish. My parents would read and have me follow along with them every night. My elementary school would have book fairs almost every month and I would buy English books. But I never read them. I would mainly just buy them because the cover looked pretty or interesting. I'm pretty sure my elementary and middle school teachers assigned some books but I really don't remember reading them.
It was when I was in ninth grade that a book really caught my attention and emotions. My English teacher gave us a list with a lot of books and we had to choose one for our book report. I decided to pick I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. This book had a great affect on me. I honestly didn't really know anything about the treatment of African Americans. I was aware of it but with this book I was able to connect and feel some emotion. I was also happy and proud of myself because I actually understood and remembered what the author was talking about. I feel like this book really opened my eyes to what literature can do. My ninth grade class is where I started to get interested in reading. Around this time is when I started to read the Harry Potter books.
The most recent book that I've read for real enjoyment is twilight. I feel a bit embarrassed admitting it because the kids that I work with at a middle school are also reading this book for enjoyment. I decided to read this book because my younger brother recommended it. It appealed to me because it's part of a series and it has a lot of vivid description. Also, the fact that they are making movies of the books keeps me motivated to read.

Liz's Autobiographical Essay #2

Autobiographical Essay #2
I know this is going to sound completely insane, the first book that really affected me was the very first one I learned how to read. I do not remember the correct name but it was the one we used in first grade. It was all about “Dick and Jane” (yes, I’m ancient). I can vividly remember the excitement I felt at understanding the words the letters made. I no longer would rely on pictures to understand a book! This book mattered so much to me because once I mastered it I moved on to others. The “Dick and Jane” book catapulted me into a love of reading. Trips to the school library once a week were highly anticipated by me because now I had a variety of stories to read and adventures to discover.
I can remember bringing my books home and practicing my reading skills (actually showing off) with my parents, my older brothers were not impressed since they viewed reading as unimportant. I never saw my parents reading anything other than Readers Digest, newspapers and the Bible books were not readily available in our community. The books brought home from school were carefully handled because to me they were so important, they were treated width great respect.
A series of books I read a few years back with great enjoyment were the “Left Behind” series. The books are about Christ return and what happens after the Rapture. It was very appealing to me because although the books are fiction they are based on scriptures from the Bible. I followed the entire series over the years they were written eagerly waiting for each release date so I could continue with the characters and see what happens to them in the story. The first in the series was actually the best and the one that touched me the most, I wanted to buy a copy and give it to everyone I knew because it was such a touching book. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able in the last couple of years to read a book for leisure, everything I read now pertains to my education.

Precis "The Achievement of Desire" by Richard Roddriguez posted by Liz Wilson

Rodriguez, Richard. “The Achievement of Desire.” 22 Jan. 2009
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2436800/Richard-Rodriguez

In the article The Achievement of Desire, Richard Rodriguez addresses the pilot of the “scholarship boy” in pursuit of academic excellence. Rodriguez acknowledges that the more he achieves academically the more of his life he loses. Furthermore, he realizes that while he was academically a good student that he too is a very bad student, relying on educators for “his” opinions.
As a young boy Rodriguez becomes keenly aware of his parents lack of understanding in what he so desires to learn. He learns quickly and successfully, the more he knows the more he is embarrassed by his parents and their lack of education. He avoids his family and withdraws from conversation with them, they seem to no longer fit in his “educated” world. Rodriguez is conflicted as he now lives in two worlds. While he feels superior to his parents he has very little self-confidence in himself. He comes to the realization as he grows older and becomes a “community of scholars” that he is isolated, feeling alone as he thinks of his family he has left behind with his advances. He becomes restless with the books and research he once loved and returns home to become reacquainted with his family and his past. Rodriguez, through his education, realizes his need to no longer be separated from his family.
A strong part of Rodriguez’s article is shown when his parents meet with his teacher and have a difficult time speaking. Rodriguez has mixed feelings when his two worlds collide. He feels embarrassed by his “uneducated” parents and feels resentful of the teacher who appears condescending to them. As a young boy he is confused by his love of his parents and his love of learning.
After reading this article I have gained an understanding into the conflicts one suffers after becoming more literate than the family they love. Upon learning and understanding the written words the parents seem inferior to some students, especially those whose parents speak a different language. The child no longer respects his parents or their authority because he now “knows” more than his parents. Literacy, once mastered, brings both pain and pleasure.

Essay #2

I'd like to start by saying that since I've become a "grown up," I don't like to read! I know that this totally contradicts what I said in my earlier posts, (about how I LOVED to read as a child) but it's true. I don't know why the change occurred, but I think it happened around the time I went to Junior High. Therefore, I am very embarrassed to report that the only things I've read lately that WERE NOT "assigned" readings are magazines, newspaper articles (online), online sports articles, and on occasion, The Bible. I have not voluntarily read "a good book" in I don't know how long. I did read a book over Christmas break called "Teenagers Are People Too!" by Joyce Meyer. It wasn't a book I picked up to read for "enjoyment" though; I read it as a "self help" type-thing (I have a 15 year old son who I'm trying to understand better!!!). Anyways, I felt starting from the present and going back made sense for this post.
As I said before, reading was encouraged in my home when I was a child. My parents, grandparents, and my aunt bought me books all of the time (I still have SEVERAL of them). Like Susan said, I too received money for Scholastic book orders, but I ordered books because I could and because I loved to read. I don't remember my parents reading too much more than the newspapers and their Bibles though... So I didn't "learn" to read from example; I just had my own passion for it.
But it wasn't until I read the book "Charolette's Web" by E.B. White, that I was ever so moved. The first time I read the book I was in the fourth grade. I chose to read it for a book report. I had to do a "project" about it, so I used a box bottom (like the ones you get from Costco when you buy like a 36 pack) decorated it like a pig pen with dirt, grass, sticks (for fencing), and little figurines, and ended up winning first place for it! It was displayed in the library for all to see!! Although the project itself was fun and rewarding, I don't think I would have ever got that "into it" if I hadn't fallen in LOVE with the book itself. The feeling I had when reading "Charolette's Web" was one that I have only experienced a few more times, but that time was special, because it was my first!!!