By focusing on people rather than statistics, this study explores the many literacy agents, methods, and materials used throughout American history.
Foreword by Gerald Gutek
Introduction
Literacy and Religion in Colonial America (1620-1789)
A Light in the Forest: Colonial New England
From "Dukes" to "Friends"-Literacy in the Middle Atlantic
Colonies
"Old Field Schools" and Tidewater Tutors: The Southern Colonies
Literacy in the Young Republic (1790-1860)
Literacy in Transition: The Northeast
"Lay the Cornerstone More Firmly"-The Antebellum South
Literacy and the Frontier Experience (1790-1900)
"Jack of All Trades, Master of Some"-Pioneer Educators of the
Midwest
"An Eternity Job"-Riding the Literacy Circuit on the Western
Frontier
Literacy Outside the Mainstream (1620-1900)
Literacy as a Mission: Native Americans
Contraband Education: The Struggle for Afro-American Literacy
Literacy in the Modern Age (1870- )
Literacy for Everyone?
Conclusion: The Lessons of Literacy
Bibliography
Index
EDWARD E. GORDON is President of the Imperial Consulting Corporation. He has also taught for 20 years at three Chicago-area universities: DePaul, Loyola, and Northwestern. He is the author of many articles and 12 other books, including Closing the Literacy Gap (1991), Futurework (1994), Enhancing Learning (1998), and Skills Wars (2000). ELAINE H. GORDON is the Vice-President for Research of the Imperial Consulting Corporation. She is the co-author with Edward E. Gordon of Centuries of Tutoring: A History of Alternative Education in Western Europe and America (1990).
." . . a fascinating and impressively researched account of
America's success (and failure) in what, on reflection, may well be
a key to our development as the world's dominant power. It is
indeed an "Historic Journey," filled with details of how our
constant drive to teach and to learn overcame the demands of
everyday labor, the challenges of distance, and the often primitive
conditions."-Paul J. Miller Senior Partner Sonnenschein Nath &
Rosenthal
." . . [The] book highlights the important role that the family has
played in literacy throughout this country's history, particularly
the important role of parent as teacher. . .. [it] should be a
great resource for all courses on the history of education in the
United States and required reading for anyone truly interested in
the history of literacy in the U.S."-Noreen S. Lopez Director, PBS
LiteracyLink
"Given the many negative reviews of declining literacy in America,
it seems as though a book on literacy should be written in a style
that readers from diverse backgrounds and/or those with highly
biased political views would find engaging. It is my belief that
most readers would find this book to be a highly readable, nicely
balanced, content-laden, and thougtfully crafted."-Ronald R. Morgan
Professor and Graduate Program Director of the Educational
Psychology Programs of Study Loyola University, Chicago
"Literacy in America: Historic Journeys and Contemporary Solutions
is a masterpiece of cleverly woven narratives and factual
information. Edward and Elaine Gordon have blended their talents of
educational historian and librarian to create a story of how
literacy evolved in the United States. The literacy story is
revealed through vignettes of people of the past, some well known
and some ordinary people. The Gordons' extensive research is
obvious, but their story is presented in a very readable and
engaging fashion. I recommend this book for parents, educators, and
the general public for a historical perspective on literacy
education."-Eunice N. Askov Distinguished Professor of Education
Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy The Pennsylvania State
University
"We face a grim enough task in maintaining a high level of
functionally literate citizens as we enter the 21st century, and
our problem is compounded by ignorance about how we could have
avoided it. If we're going to reverse current trends, we have to
begin by learning why our recent ancestors prized the ability to
read so highly and how they managed to beat the educational
odds-and how we can, too. The Gordons have now given us the lively
and intelligent ammunition we need in the twin wars against growing
illiteracy and complacency. As a former teacher, I wish every
teacher-and every parent-in America would read this book, and then
live by it!"-Benjamin R. Justesen Washington D.C., non-profit
administrator author, George henry White: An Even Chance in the
Race of Life
"The wonder is that this book on literacy in America took Edward E.
Gordon and Elaine H. Gordon only ten years to research and write
rather than twenty. No one before them has attempted such a full
coverage of the history of literacy in the United States from the
colonial period to the present day, using quantitative and
qualitative evidence....[a] major contribution to the history of
literacy with appeal well beyond a scholarly audience. every
teacher of literacy would be enriched by reading it."-Journal of
American History
?[A] major contribution to the history of literacy with appeal well
beyond a scholarly audience. Every teacher of literacy would be
enriched by reading it.?-Journal of American History
?[L]iteracy in America provides a well-documented account of the
variety of ways people learned to read and write throughout
America's history....[o]ffer intriguing models for addressing the
pressing need for more sophisticated and wide-spread literacy in
today's population.?-Anthropology and Education Quarterly
?[T]his will appeal to a broad audience. It gives a comprehensive
historical look at the development of literacy in America.?-The
OLCR News
?Literacy in America provides a well-documented account of variety
of ways people learned to read and write throughout America's
history.?-Anthropology & Education Quarterly
?The strength of this book is its variety of first person sources.
Writings range from Cotton Mather's plan for the education of his
children to the eighteenth-century schooling of Hannah
Adams....These stories and others of approaches to literacy
education add color and credibility to more standard histories of
education in the United States.?-American Historical Review
?The wonder is that this book on literacy in America took Edward E.
Gordon and Elaine H. Gordon only ten years to research and write
rather than twenty. No one before them has attempted such a full
coverage of the history of literacy in the United States from the
colonial period to the present day, using quantitative and
qualitative evidence....[a] major contribution to the history of
literacy with appeal well beyond a scholarly audience. every
teacher of literacy would be enriched by reading it.?-Journal of
American History
"The strength of this book is its variety of first person sources.
Writings range from Cotton Mather's plan for the education of his
children to the eighteenth-century schooling of Hannah
Adams....These stories and others of approaches to literacy
education add color and credibility to more standard histories of
education in the United States."-American Historical Review
"ÝA¨ major contribution to the history of literacy with appeal well
beyond a scholarly audience. Every teacher of literacy would be
enriched by reading it."-Journal of American History
"ÝL¨iteracy in America provides a well-documented account of the
variety of ways people learned to read and write throughout
America's history....Ýo¨ffer intriguing models for addressing the
pressing need for more sophisticated and wide-spread literacy in
today's population."-Anthropology and Education Quarterly
"ÝT¨his will appeal to a broad audience. It gives a comprehensive
historical look at the development of literacy in America."-The
OLCR News
"[A] major contribution to the history of literacy with appeal well
beyond a scholarly audience. Every teacher of literacy would be
enriched by reading it."-Journal of American History
"[L]iteracy in America provides a well-documented account of the
variety of ways people learned to read and write throughout
America's history....[o]ffer intriguing models for addressing the
pressing need for more sophisticated and wide-spread literacy in
today's population."-Anthropology and Education Quarterly
"[T]his will appeal to a broad audience. It gives a comprehensive
historical look at the development of literacy in America."-The
OLCR News
"Literacy in America provides a well-documented account of variety
of ways people learned to read and write throughout America's
history."-Anthropology & Education Quarterly
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