The Bridge to Literacy
No child - or adult -
left behind
by
John
Corcoran
National literacy advocate John
Corcoran, who helped to bring illiteracy
out of the shadows with his
autobiography, goes back into the
"subculture of illiteracy" from which he
escaped at the age of 48 in his new
book, Bridge to Literacy:
No Child - or Adult Left Behind.
Bridge to Literacy
examines the state of crisis of
illiteracy in America and shares a
vision of hope for children and adults.
Teaching all children how to read
using scientifically proven methods of
instruction in the classroom will
prevent another generation of failure,
while increasing resources for programs
for older students, dropouts, and adult
learners will improve the illiteracy
that threatens the economic and social
well-being in America.
Through extensive research and
in-depth interviews, Bridge
to Literacy is the first
book to bring together leading
researchers, advocates, and literacy
champions in both public and private
sectors–including in the U.S. and in
Canada–who are fighting an overwhelming
battle on several fronts, from early
childhood detection to adult literacy
programs. It shares the moving stories
of parents who broke through barriers to
provide educational support for their
children, and tales of despair and
victory as adults struggled to cope with
the stigma of illiteracy and emerged
into society's dominant culture of the
written word.
Pragmatic and data-driven, Bridge to
Literacy issues an inspiring call to
action to realize a vision of literacy
in America, with integrated efforts to
diagnose difficulties and to teach
reading at every age using
scientifically based methods. The
prevention and eradication of illiteracy
is possible. We have the research and
the knowledge. All we need now is the
commitment and the will to act.
Reviews:
Despite the noble
efforts of many people at all levels of
our society, the far-reaching problems
of illiteracy in America have not been
solved, or even contained. Illiteracy is
an urgent mater that simply must be
addressed. In this thoughtful and
powerful book, The Bridge to Literacy,
John Corcoran lays out the blueprint for
what can and must be done. Everyone who
really cares about our future and the
need for a more literate America should
walk the walk with John Corcoran through
through the pages of this book.
-- Jim Duffy, former president of ABC-TV
and national spokesperson for Project
Literacy U.S.
John Corcoran's newest book beckons each
of us who recognizes literacy skills as
a fundamental requirement for human
growth and development to determine a
way for those many adults and children
who have not crossed the Bridge to
Literacy to get in step. John offers for
reflection what so many now know; he
presents a courageous challenge to
institutions of higher learning, while
expressing his concern for the teachers
who are not prepared to teach after
received degrees.
-- M. Therese (Terry) Kelly, BA, MLA,
director and president of
New Heights Center and a practicing
educational therapist
About the Author:
John corcoran
is the National literacy advocate
who helped to bring illiteracy out of
the shadows with his autobiography,
The Teacher Who Couldn’t Read: The True
Story of a High School Instructor Who
Triumphed over His Illiteracy (Focus
on the Family, 1994). His shocking and
emotionally moving story—from being a
child who was failed by the system, to
an angry adolescent, a desperate college
student, and finally an emerging adult
reader—touched audiences of such
national television shows as Oprah,
20/20, Phil Donahue and Larry King Live.
His story was also featured in national
magazines such as Esquire,
Biography, Reader’s Digest,
and People.
Visit The John Corcoran Foundation Website
