S.C. literacy improves
Programs focus on individual learning levels
By Diane Knich
Programs like those at the award-winning Dorchester Adult Education Department have contributed greatly to a 25 percent decline in the South Carolina adult illiteracy rate, state education officials say.
The Post and Courier
Margie Smith (right) a teacher for more than 35 years, goes over algebra with Ashley Felder on Friday at the Dorchester County Adult Learning Center in Summerville.
A comprehensive national study, released last week by the U.S. Department of Education, found that 15 percent of the state's adults either can't read at all or can read only a few words. The study, based on data collected in 2003, was a follow-up to a 1992 study, which found that 20 percent of South Carolina adults lacked basic literacy skills. The data from both surveys was compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics.
South Carolina now falls slightly behind the national average of 14.5 percent of adults lacking basic literacy skills. The national average was 14.7 percent in 1992.
South Carolina has a long way to go, but "we're a whole lot better than what we were," said David Stout, director of the state Department of Education's Office of Adult Education.
Julie Kornahrens, director of Dorchester County Adult Education, said one of the changes in adult education in recent years has been that teachers are making sure students are learning material that's relevant to their lives and directly related to career goals. Improvements in teaching adult learners probably contributed to the overall drop in the rate of illiteracy, she said.
"Rarely in an adult education class do you find everybody on page 47 at the same time," she said.
More information
To learn more about the National Assessment of Adult Literacy's comparison tools, see The Institute of Education Sciences of the Department of Education web site.
Students take a test to determine their reading and math levels when they enroll in a program, she said. Then, they begin a GED class with a small group of students who need to work on various skills. Students work on the areas in which they need to improve, she said. Nobody but the student and the teacher knows on which level the student's skills fall.
Ashley Felder, 23 and a single parent of three children, began her GED studies last month and appreciates the adult education center's "mature setting." She's not sure yet which career path she is going to pursue, but she knows she must earn a GED before she does anything else.
Felder said she left high school at 16 because she was pregnant. But it's her three children who inspired her to return to school. "Having three kids, I need a career, not just a job," she said.
Kornahrens' program in Dorchester County brought home the state's top adult education honors last month for having high percentages of its students earning high school credentials or GEDs. She said other factors that contribute to the drop in the illiteracy rate are: stronger accountability programs for children — such as No Child Left Behind — which allow fewer students to slip through the academic cracks, and a larger number of adult education centers scattered about the state.
Stout said the improvements were largest in some of the state's poorest counties. For instance, Allendale County, the state's poorest, went from 43 percent of adults lacking basic literacy skills in 1992 to 29 percent in 2003.
Literacy gains were far less dramatic in Charleston and Dorchester counties, which each improved by a percentage point or two, and in Berkeley County, which saw no improvements, maintaining its illiteracy rate.
Both Stout and Kornahrens said the study covers gains only through 2003. They think the state made additional gains in the past five years.
Stout attributed much of the improvement to better programs, which were possible because the state has funded adult education.
The state's adult programs receive $7 million to $8 million in federal money each year, Stout said. Until the recent state budget crisis, they received $14 million to $15 million.
But Kornahrens said more can be done. She would like to see closer connections between adult education programs and employers. And she would like to make sure more adults who think their lack of basic skills is holding them back know that there are classes for them.
"It's an amazing experience to watch students who have been given up on succeeding," she said. "Working with the adult education student is by far the most rewarding thing I've ever done."
Reach Diane Knich at 937-5491 or dknich@postand courier.com.
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theronce (anonymous) says...
How does anyone know what is the overall skill level. No one has tested me or anyone that I have known. Yet, they keep throwing out this percentage as if it is true. However, it does not surprise me with all of the dummies that I do know as evidenced by the large number of incumbents that we re-elect year after year. Another question, how does someone get to the tenth grade without being able to read, write, and count.
January 12, 2009 at 8:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zekemire (anonymous) says...
And, if schools were allowed to educate students this way, our national ranking and test scores would skyrocket! Instead we are forced to treat everyone the same regardless of ability! Newberry County schools in the 70's implemented a program where classes were formed based on students abilities and test scores! The students excelled, teachers were thrilled and the schools excelled! Teachers were amazed that, for instance, in the A group, they only had to approach a subject once instead of constantly repeating the material for students that could not keep up! But then, a group of parents threatened to sue the school board for discrimination because their child was not placed in the A or B group! Ridiculous, but, it stopped that great successful program!
January 12, 2009 at 9:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
LOL ....LOL !! What a piece of reporting !!!!!
Citizens.....WHAT does this say about ...WHO ??? Sit back and think..!!!
Think of all the PAST LEADERS of the Dept of Educration..!!!
From Dick Riley ....to the present Jim "T-REX" Rex..??!?!
MY BACKSIDE..!!!! (Fist POUNDS!!!) It is blatantly obvious WHO in this state needs more CEUs...!!! When is the LAST time any state leader has taken ANY....(any!!!) CEU classes on Elevated MAG-LEV TRANSPORTATION, VIRTUAL Classrooms, PLASMA Technology to CLOSE Landfills, and ....above all....you guessed it ....Algae Bio-diesel production for ENERGY self sufficiency..!!!
Think citizens.....just HOW WELL do our leaders even know how to SPEAK to us...?!?! ....much less even LISTEN..!!!
If you would readers ....just go on every website for ANY publication across OUR state and read a few of the articles in INK..!! Just WHAT are we being FED..?!?! Talk about getting an education..!! At least this newspaper tries to humor us..!!!!!!
Jim "T-Rex" Rex and Henry MacDADDY McMaster and Andre "the GIANT" Bauer......I highly suggest you do .....WHAT !!!???
January 12, 2009 at 9:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
"Having three kids, I need a career, not just a job," she said. "
I'm heartened to see that Ms. Felder understands her predicament and is trying to do what it will take to better herself and her circumstances.
There is plenty of blame to assign when discussing the dismal failure of the government school system. But the number one issue is lack of parental involvement. The second cause is the cultural decline of the perceived importance of education. Third, are the governmental waste, abuse and over-regulation of the education system.
With that said, I appreciate these programs. If nothing else it gets otherwise unemployable or underemployed people basic literacy skills in order to do better. In fact there have been instances whereby older students have gone on to attend Trident and other schools in order to develop specialized skills and get careers as opposed to just getting jobs.
Teach a man to fish:
January 12, 2009 at 11:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
ZooMRU..Weeee....
It's all about the parents. EYFig summed it up very well. We can gripe about the schools, teachers, and the schoolboard. I guess some things won't change. One variable parents can have a positive affect on is the direct involvement with their kids education.
January 12, 2009 at 11:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Parents can't get their kids to keep their pants on anymore.
January 12, 2009 at 1:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
This story seems to have been designed to give the reader that warm fuzzy feeling as a under educated mother of three bravely accepts the challenge of acquiring the education she rejected seven years prior.
Children quit school at 16 for whatever reason then later after realizing how useless they are from the prospective of a would be employer, they have an epiphany and enroll in adult education classes at the taxpayer's expense.
In this young lady's case she has three children who I suspect have been a liability to the tax payers starting at birth.
Sooner or later this cycle must be broken. Maybe she can draw from her own experience and instill in her children enough desire to become something more than just another lost soul depending on others for the necessities of life.
January 12, 2009 at 2:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ccfromsc (anonymous) says...
Wow! I guess that means that they can now read "The Cat in the Hat" now! Seriously! This area has the most illiterate morons in the world. It is amazing that these kids even know how to turn on a TV.
January 12, 2009 at 2:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wucherer (anonymous) says...
Hooked on phonics or drugs....Hmmmm.
January 12, 2009 at 4:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CNN_10 (anonymous) says...
Well this is nothing new because South Carolina educational system is garbage it sucks.
January 12, 2009 at 10:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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