 |
Study: Improved Literacy Could Add $17.6 Million to Triangle EconomyBy Amber Lester Saturday, January 23, 2010
Members of the literacy study team with Rita Welsh director Joan Peterson and Congressman Rob Wittman (center).
The research, conducted by William and Mary students Andrew English and Chenggeng Bi, was presented to an audience including community leaders, health professionals, employment professionals and Congressman Rob Wittman on Friday afternoon at the Mason School of Business. Rita Welsh Adult Literacy Program Director Joan Peterson suggested the idea for the study to Eric Jensen, director of the Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy, at a cocktail party. She wanted to see what impact the literacy center could have on the local economy if it were able to serve more members of the community. English and Bi conducted the study under the supervision of David Finifter, a professor of economics, and Pamela Eddy, a professor of education. The center, which currently has a waiting list, provides basic education for adults and lessons in English for non-native speakers. Currently, the majority of the center’s students seek lessons in English as a Second Language (ESL) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Peterson believes improving literacy is the first step toward improving lives, and her theories were supported by the research presented Friday. The research team used data from the 1992 National Adult Literacy Study (NALS) and the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL), along with tests and literacy scores from Rita Welsh. In Williamsburg, 8 percent of the adult population is illiterate; 7 percent of the James City County adult population is illiterate. Across the state, 12 percent of adults are illiterate. The researchers found a person’s employment, income and health improves as his or her literacy score improves. People who score low literacy testing scores are more likely to be in poverty and are likely to make less than $500 a week. A one-point increase in a quantitative literacy score leads to a 0.4 percent increase in weekly wages, according to the 1992 NALS. The study finds the Rita Welsh center can improve the weekly earnings of ESOL and Adult Basic Education (ABE) learners by 17.8 percent and 6 percent, respectively. “Education is truly the silver bullet that breaks the poverty cycle,” English said in his presentation. Improvements in literacy can also vastly improve health. The study cites research that shows literacy to be a stronger predictor of one’s health than age and income. An inability to read can lead to barriers to communication with health officials, difficulty understanding a diagnosis and mismanagement of treatment. The research team estimated low literacy in Williamsburg and James City County demanded $5.7 million in extra health-related expenses. Low literacy was also found to have a significant impact on crime. A 1996 study found that 46.5 percent of U.S. prison inmates do not have a high school diploma and 70 percent scored low on literacy tests. A study in Maryland showed the state’s investment of $11.7 million in correctional education returned at least $23.3 million to the state. Improved literacy is also estimated to reduce the likelihood of released inmates returning to criminal behavior by 10 percent. The average cost of incarceration per inmate per year in Virginia is $22,942; Finifter pointed out that money could be the cost of a year’s tuition at a public university. The research team estimated that if the Rita Welsh center were able to assist the entire illiterate population of the Williamsburg area, it could add $17.6 million to the local economy. The number came from the combined economic benefits of improved wages, health care savings and incarceration cost savings. Through tutoring and lessons, the Rita Walsh center could boost worker’s wages by $2,111 a year, which would add $7.2 million annually to the local economy. If health literacy were improved, the area’s health care costs could be reduced by $10.3 million each year. With a more literate society, reduced crime could save $38,559 locally - $2,294 per person in Williamsburg. The health care savings are conservative, Finifter said. The researchers estimated the total health cost savings based on 30 percent of the total if the entire illiterate population did not efficiently use health care services. Peterson pointed out the definition of illiterate was also conservative. A reader is considered illiterate if he or she is below a first grade reading level, but Peterson said the number of low literacy readers who are below a ninth-grade reading level is exponentially higher. One health care worker in the audience said she has had to train elementary school students to read prescriptions in order to help their grandparents take medication. Another audience member added that it seemed spending money on education would be more helpful than spending money on prisons. Congressman Wittman nodded along with each commenter before saying, “I do think this is critical information, especially for decision-makers at the local, state and federal level to make better decisions.” He said if there is a linear relationship between improving literacy and economic value, lawmakers should set reachable goals toward eliminating illiteracy. |
|
Copyright © 2010-2011 WY Daily. Davis Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Website by Web-tactics
Website by Web-tactics
Comments
Many illiterate individuals fell upon hard times early in their lives that prevented them from being able to complete their educations. They should be praised, not ridiculed for their efforts today to bring themselves to levels of literacy that improve their abilities to live off the fruits of their own labor.
And to anon--open your eyes, illiterate individuals are everywhere in our community. Many have developed coping mechanisms that mask their lack of literacy from the public but still hold them back from getting better jobs and improving their lives. 1/3 of the previous commentors to this article can't proficiently spell what they'd like to communicate (literacy problem)--that' s much higher than 7%.
John, Please contact me at pscottz
Are you willing? Who else is?
There is no incentive to learn if you can be a parasite on society for your entire life . What needs to be taught is the principle of personal responsibility. The people who are leading and instructing needs to understand that the absense of sacrifice leads to the spirit of entitlement. Stop entitling and rewarding non-achievers.
The challenge to you, the parents, educators and society is to make people responsible for their actions and not put a cushion under their butts.They will keep abusing the system so they can continue to be lazy,undiscipli ned sluggards.
I eager wait to see this plan put into action.
I am available to assist in this program.
Thanks, John
I also question the dollars referenced. What job that is filled by someone illiterate is going to pay $2000/year more? If the job doesn't require literacy then it will only pay the minimum required regardless if the worker is literate or not.
I agree that literacy improves life, but it's not necessary to exaggerate to make that point.