Literacy: Reading the Word and the World

by Donaldo Macedo

At a time when popularizers of cultural literacy are prescribing a cultural canon for the purpose of prying open the `closed minds' of American youth . . . Literacy provides an articulate and courageous response.

Harvard Educational Review



Every chapter . . . asks teachers to thing again about how they teach, what they want for their pupils, and how to get on with it. Times Educational Supplement



[This] book directs our attention to literacy in its broadest sense so that we can better evaluate the shortcomings of our work as educators at all levels of learning. Contemporary Sociology

Genres: Education, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Teaching, Academic, Grad School, Language

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 1987

Reviews

[Ron Bottorff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why did it take me so long to discover Paulo Freire?

[Patrick Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much has been made of literacy education in the United States in the last couple of years, particularly post-COVID distance learning. Many states and districts, including Ohio under Mike DeWine and the New York City Public School Districts, are heavily emphasizing a return to “science of reading” curriculum. The popular podcast amongst educators “Sold a Story” chronicles the widespread “Reading Recovery” curriculum developed from Marie Clay’s research on optimal literacy practices. Reading Recovery was heavily expanded under the Clinton administration, and was based on a fundamental disdain for, and misunderstanding of, our optimal process for learning the written word as opposed to the spoken word. I believe it is unquestionably a net positive for American literacy that we re-emphasize phonetic instruction; Reading Recovery, however, is not solely responsible for the historic illiteracy of Americans (60 million at the time of this book’s writing), and a return to the strictly mechanical “scientific” instruction is not a cohesive solution.

“Literacy” expounds upon the significance of reading the world as much as the word, evaluating literacy as our mean for critically analyzing and, eventually, “writing” the world. As such, it consists of far more than the memorization and reproduction of a primary language: it constitutes our critical perception, comprehension, and consciousness. It is far more subjective than it is often acknowledged to be. I could repeat much of Freire’s philosophy here but there’s little reason when he’s done so exhaustively, suffice to say that “Literacy” is a very compelling argument for the acknowledgment of literacy as being a social discipline as much as it is a “scientific” or mechanical one. Although I am encouraged by recent pushes for the improvement of English education in US public education, it is very far from the beginning of the end of illiteracy. In fact, we may merely be returning to the status quo of what has historically been an insufficient mode of literacy education. Hopefully that will not be the case.

[Lo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is there to say? What is there to say?

[Mindie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the most influential theoretical lens I have encountered.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this the most dense of all Freire's text, though it's certainly worth the effort, because I also found some passages to be the most powerful of his that I've read (and some of them were also the most problematic...). Sociologists will find this book particularly interesting (Bourdieu is referenced out-right, and I drew some connections b/tween Freire's ghosts and Avery Gordon's hauntings).

Make sure to read Giroux's intro.

[Kyrstin Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating thoughts about what it means to be literate. Still wrapping my mind around everything this book has to offer. Know I’ll be coming back to this one over and over again.

[Kari · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some useful ideas here, but it's quite dated.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's extremely dense and hard to get through and second because I find Freire to be contradictory. He makes a strong assertion about the role of literacy in the lives of citizens but then in his practice (which is chapter 4) and later chapters, he encourages the use of techniques that will all but brainwash those he is reading so that his concept of literacy is literacy as it coincides with communism.

He's very focused on revolutions--that we should always be working to overthrow the oppressors. This idea is mildly irrational in a civilized society where violent revolutions aren't rational. By bringing true literacy to the population (not literacy as it pertains to supporting the "teacher's" ideals), the group decisions are more sound for everyone truly understands what they are voting for or against.

Overall, I find the text enlightening but I'm exercising my literacy by disagreeing with a lot of his practice.

[Aimee Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible theory for educators. Reaffirms my beliefs with research and philosophy. A difficult read for new educators or student teachers who have not lived in a classroom, but significant to the meta-awareness of any current educator.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed my life.

[Zach]

Literacy: Reading the Word and Reading the World is another gem full of lightning rods from Paulo Freire. Readers are treated with an exploration of Freire's conception of literacy -- an exploration that is not in the least bit prescriptive and instead thought provoking. Freire's quick dismantlement of the different approaches to literacy is something every teacher should weigh and consider, but so few like to read Freire because he doesn't map it out and do the thinking for you. 


Freire's emancipatory literacy is the best form of student empowerment that I've seen yet. 


 Here's a favorite quote, "a person is literate to the extent that he or she is able to use language for social and political reconstruction."