Do americans have a problem with literacy? why?

Question

But much more Americans seem to have a problem with spelling. Alot of my friends from America who actually are very smart, are awful at spelling and grammar. It doest really bother me, it's just something I noticed ...

Answer 1

Yes. come on this side, and just look at the questions.

Even with "Check Spelling." Many words are spelled wrong.

And even more ask. "What does this word mean?"

And even more ask to have their homework done.

And all the rest ask. Am I pregnant? or my condom broke.

Did I, pull out in time?

Answer 2

Jacinta R. ... 'spelling and grammar are, not is'!

I taught Language Arts in Baltimore City for 2 years, and I am currently working in Bermuda as a reading teacher.  It's not just America, although I think that America is a large part of the problem.

Education has a lot to do with it, but also religion, culture, socieoeconomic status, and family.  Unless something is neurologically wrong with your brain, there is no reason for anyone to be illiterate.  I teach in a high school, and come across some really bright children.  Once I hear what their priorities are (girl/boy friends, music videos, drugs and alcohol, social status, family issues and disfunction, etc.), it's quite evident that books/reading/education are not valued, and most times, its not their fault!  It's just a vicious cycle that dates back to slavery.

I could write all night.  I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but it will get worse before it gets better.  The break-down of society.  All that concerned people can do is to try to instill appropriate values into their children at an early age, versus materialistic nonsense.

Sad really:(

Answer 3

I hate to generalise, but from the questions and answers I've seen on here they do.   The spelling and grammar on here is atrocious!

Answer 4

EVERY country has a subset of persons with a problem with literacy. That doesn't mean that everyone is illiterate.

(-: I think there's also a problem with people who are super-literate. They often waste too much time reading books (or on the internet, LOL!), they can be SUCH snobs about punctuation and grammar, and they get so involved with reading and writing that they don't realize that there's another life out there to be lived. Yes, I belong to Super Literates, Anonymous! I'm trying hard to get a life, and not be so judgemental.

It's a problem when someone wants to read, but can't. Those people should be helped.

Answer 5

This is because of the NCLB law.

Instead of teachers being able to actually teach, they now have to spoon feed information into students like robots so they can MEMORIZE, not LEARN,  them so they can pass the state tests so schools can GET MORE MONEY

Schools don't care if kids learn anything or not anymore, just as long as they get that money

Answer 6

Yes they do.  I believe that for the most part it has to do with poor education.  Schools have started to place a much hihger empahsis on communication arts in elementary and highschool, so hopefully the problem will start to get better.