According to Time magazine, the U.S. Census Bureau recently reported that 2.8 million people in the U.S. cannot read or write. This may sound like a high number, but many consider it an optimistic estimation.
The United States Department of Education‘s 2009 statistics suggest that 14 percent of the population – or 32 million adults – have very low literacy skills. In spite of major gains in areas of education, illiteracy remains a big problem in America. Worse, the Education Department predicts that children of illiterate adults will be poor readers as well.
The government agency says that illiteracy is often linked with crime and poverty, teenage pregnancy, and substance abuse. Many cultural critics also think the media is linked to these social ills.
Telecom company Verizon’s recent Reading Campaign helps to battle both the stereotype that television breeds societal problems and the problem of illiteracy in the U.S.
The Verizon Foundation sponsors a Reading Campaign each year, collecting new and gently used books for public school systems throughout the nation. This year, more than 109,000 free children’s books were donated to schools and nonprofit organizations across the country.
Verizon officials hope their efforts will make a significant contribution to improving children’s literacy rates. Foundation president Patrick Gaston said, "Studies have shown that one of the most successful methods to improving reading achievement is to ensure that children have easy access to age-appropriate reading material."
This was the first year that the public was invited to take part in Verizon’s campaign. Verizon’s website featured a link for users to make an online donation to First Book – a nonprofit organization that provides new books to children in need through community organizations across the country.
"I am tremendously proud of the efforts of our employees, our partners and everyone who participated in the Season’s Readings campaign to help get books into the hands of children and help them become lifelong learners."