The Immigrant Magazine, Commentary, Nicoline Ambe-Ndiforchu,PHD

According to a latest report by www.newamericamedia.org, “nearly half the adults in Motown, Detroit are “functionally illiterate,” which means an estimated 200,000 residents are struggling every day to read, speak and write.”

As I read this report, I thought about my own motivations as an immigrant woman who came to this country with nothing except the desire to study and further my education. I could not help but ask myself one important question “why”? Why would anybody be illiterate in America? This is a country that offers opportunities to anyone who is willing to work hard and prosper. There are tons and tons of resources available to support anyone who wants to take advantage of them for their own self-improvement. It does not make sense that an entire city doesn’t have an understanding that education is important to the progress and growth of the individual and the community as a whole.

A second question I asked myself after reading this article was “who is responsible for this high illiteracy rate and what can be done about it?” Many advocates have blamed budget cuts for the educational crisis happening in several cities and schools. It appears that flooding schools with money has become the great alternative to teaching our kids that going to school and staying focused in school is fundamental to their success in life. This is a message that our children need to be raised with, the idea that education is a sine qua non for their success as adults. When children understand the value of education in their lives, they become more focused on achieving their educational goals.

It is quite unfortunate and ironical that what seems to be driving many immigrants to America (the freedom and the opportunities) may be the very things that are destroying some of America’s own citizens. People have become complacent, taking for granted that they live in a country of plenty and therefore don’t need to work as hard. It is my hope that the city officials in this city will come to the realization about how to fix this problem and usher in a new level of awareness that emphasizes the value of education as the foundation of a successful life, as many immigrants seem to have embraced.

Source:
http://newamericamedia.org/2011/05/analysis-illiteracy-in-detroit-a-national-shame.php

Nicoline Ambe is a published author and speaker. She is available to speak on “helping parents motivate their children for success.” Request Nicoline at: www.nicolineambe.com