Literacy is infinite…
As I analyze the assigned reading, the meaning of literacy seems to grow deeper. We have explored many aspect of literacy….
• Literacy as power
• Illiteracy as embarrassment, shame, uncomfortable feelings
• Literacy as culture
• Literacy as art, songs and bodily gesture
• Literacy in groups
• Literacy in subject areas
• Analysis of how literacy changes our views truth
• Literacy as awareness
• Literacy at the work place
• Social literacy
One can build on Freire’s conclusion that reading words cannot be separated from reading the world. Literacy (in all its forms) cannot be separated from reading the world. Based on our readings I am finding that literacy is a collection of what the world understands and is heavily dependent on context. Worldly knowledge is beyond my grasps. Because literacy is heavily intertwined with worldly understanding, I have surmised that literacy is infinite. I now know literacy may not be achieved in all areas but this class will strengthen my understanding of what it means to be literate. The class has already opened doors for understanding literacy for many viewpoints.
Shannon, this almost sounds like a text from the bible (Love is kind, love is patient,,,) You wrote, "literacy is a collection of what the world understands and is heavily dependent on context. Worldly knowledge is beyond my grasp." Well, I am not sure literacy is infinite--we could probably categorize the various approaches and beliefs about it--but social-cultural approaches to literacy CAN lead to world knowledge. Maybe this was Freire's greatest insight: that through the concrete text we can learn to see the world as it really is.....Great post!
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