Literacy for Democracy

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Author(s): Teresa Lucas (Florida International University, USA)
Copyright: 2023
Pages: 11
Source title: Handbook of Research on Socio-Cultural and Linguistic Perspectives on Language and Literacy Development
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Angela K. Salmon (Florida International University, USA)and Amparo Clavijo-Olarte (Universidad Distrital Francisco Jose de Caldas, Colombia)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-6684-5022-2.ch020

Keywords: Information Science Reference / Linguistics / Literacy and Language Studies / Media & Communications

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Abstract

The world is more literate than ever, but does this literacy lead to a more thoughtful citizenry? The approach to teaching literacy skills governed by the necessity of choosing the “right” answers on multiple choice assessment instruments has the effect of producing literate and competent workers rather than the critical, creative, and ethical citizens required for functioning democratic societies. The fall of the Soviet Union in 1989 was celebrated as the victory of democratic ideals over authoritarian forms of government in many parts of the globe. However, events in the current century point to a trend towards autocracy. This chapter considers how events in the current century in the United States and Venezuela point to a trend towards autocracy and suggests how strengthening educational practices, especially those for engaging children in thoughtful literacy, can result in a return to democracy.

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