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FIGHTING ILLITERACY: THE SWEDISH WAY Introduction “At the current level of investment high profile enough to attract the atten- Focus and with current programming, any tion of politicians—and the needed This News in Re- improvements achieved are slower funding. view story focuses than the population growth nationally. What may have grabbed everyone’s on the problem of low literacy in If we keep doing what we are doing attention was the 2003 International Canada. We com- now, the number of people with low Adult Literacy and Skills Survey pare the Canadian literacy in Canada will increase at the (IALSS). It showed that the level of experience with rate of about 100 000 a year.” — Satya illiteracy in Canada hadn’t budged at that of Sweden and Brink, director of Policy Research of all—matching the level of investment. look at the cost of illiteracy on a Human Resources Skills Development The levels were shocking: about 12 national and Canada (“Demers’ story highlights million Canadians 16 and older had low personal level. challenges of literacy,” Toronto Star, levels of literacy. November 17, 2005, A 27) Few countries have done better, except Sweden. Since 1994, Sweden Quote It may be hard to believe, but a has lowered its functional illiteracy rate “What came to light wealthy country such as Canada has a to 7.5 per cent (compared with . is that Canada’s shameful problem. Low levels of Canada’s rate of 14.6 per cent). Sweden approach to adult literacy plague many Canadians. has the lowest illiteracy rate in the illiteracy is based Worse still, the problem appears to be world. The trick? An educational sys- largely on unpaid or lowly paid ama- growing. tem that welcomes and encourages teurs, not well-paid By 2005, organizations whose people to improve their literacy and a professionals. purpose was to improve the literacy of government that provides the funding. Since the early 1990s adult Canadians had flat-lined. They Instead of volunteers, those providing there [have] been a had no more funding than they’d had the training are professionals. What’s lot of cutbacks in 15 years earlier. That means they were more, people have the option—at any government fund- ing, and the issues not getting enough to assist illiterate point in their lives—to take up literacy of accountability adults in their efforts to overcome low training provided by the government. have come down on literacy skills. The problem was not No questions asked. community-based programs, compro- mising service To Consider delivery.” — Nayda 1. Read the quotation at the top of this page. Veeman, literacy a) What does Satya Brink predict will happen in the future? expert (“Demers’ story highlights b) What is the cause she cites? challenges of lit- c) How would you solve the problem she identifies? eracy,” Toronto Star, November 17, 2. How could illiteracy affect your life and your society? Think of two pos- 2005, A 27) sible impacts for each. 3. Considering just the information in this brief introduction to the topic of illiteracy, what are the main differences between the Canadian system for YV Sections teaching literacy to adults and the Swedish system? marked with this symbol indicate 4. Which appears to be the better system? Support your position with facts. content suitable for younger viewers. CBC News in Review • June 2006 • Page 43 FIGHTING ILLITERACY: THE SWEDISH WAY YV Video Review 1. What types of problems faced Lynda Richards because she was illiterate? Carefully respond to the questions as you view the video. 2. What percentage of Canadians cannot read the writing on simple bottles of medicine such as Aspirin? _______% 3. What percentage of Canadians cannot read a hazardous materials infor- mation sheet? _______% 4. What percentage of Canadians is considered to be semi-literate? _______ % 5. What barriers did Lynda Richards face when she attempted to become literate? 6. a) What is Canada’s rate of functional literacy? _______% b) What is Sweden’s rate of functional literacy? _______% 7. What did Nayda Veeman discover about literacy programs in Sweden? 8. How many cabinet ministers are responsible for education in Sweden? ______ 9. How has achieving literacy changed Lynda Richards’ life? 10. In your opinion how important is literacy in today’s world. Why? CBC News in Review • June 2006 • Page 44 FIGHTING ILLITERACY: THE SWEDISH WAY The Jacques Demers Story Way back in 1985, hockey figure • In 1990, becomes head coach of the Quote Jacques Demers was already a very Detroit Red Wings. “A bad break is a optimistic individual, a person who challenge. A • In 1992, becomes coach of the challenge is an didn’t fear challenge. He faced a very Toronto Maple Leafs. opportunity. An significant challenge most of his life— • In 1993, brings the Stanley Cup home opportunity be- the challenge of illiteracy. As the quote for the Montreal Canadiens. comes a success for in the sidebar reveals, he respects those who are people who overcome bad breaks to • In 1997, begins coaching for the tryers, who never create opportunity. First read about his Tampa Bay Lightning. quit, and who have • Begins a new career as a sports com- the will to prove story. Then decide if you think Demers others wrong.” — fits his own definition of a “tryer.” mentator. Jacques Demers, Begin by looking at the major events in • In 2005, at 61 years of age, reveals his 1985 (Jack Falla, his life. illiteracy, in an authorized biography. “Dog days no more in St. Louis,” Sports What do people with very low lit- Illustrated, March Life: eracy skills have trouble with? A major 11, 1985, p. 70) • Born in Côte-des-Neiges, Montreal in stumbling block is keeping track of and 1944. paying bills. And that is one of the few • Father, Emile, works as a butcher/ things that professional hockey coach janitor. Jacques Demers could not handle on his • Mother, Mignonne, dies of leukemia own. For many years, no one knew in 1960. about Demers’ inability to read or write. • Two years later, Demers’ father dies The only way that his wife, Debbie, of a heart attack. finally found out about it was that she was paying all the household bills and • Hockey-playing career ends when he wanted to know why he never did so. breaks his leg during a Junior B game. The problem was simply that he could • Starts driving a Coca-Cola truck to not read the bills. support his brother and two younger Demers is the perfect example for sisters. demonstrating that illiteracy is not • Volunteers as a coach of Outremont, a evidence of a lack of intelligence. Montreal junior league team. Demers had a long and highly success- • In 1972, becomes a scout for the ful career as a coach inprofessional Chicago Cougars (World Hockey hockey. Perhaps the peak came in 1993, Association). when he coached the Montreal Canadiens to a Stanley Cup win. • Becomes head coach within a year. Coaching a team involves tracking a • Becomes coach of the Québec good deal of information. It involves Nordiques in 1978. reviewing and authorizing contracts. It • In 1983-1986, coaches for St. Louis involves statistics, drill rosters, and pay Blues. slips. It is a testament to Demers’ • From 1986 to 990, brings the Blues— intelligence and strategic abilities that a minor team — within a goal of the he was able to avoid detection over a Stanley Cup finals. very long career. No one—not the CBC News in Review • June 2006 • Page 45 players, not his bosses, not even his a very public figure, coaching five NHL friends—guessed at Demers’ handicap. teams and then becoming a sports How did he do it? Like many people commentator. Then, in 2005, with with poor literacy skills, Demers had a Demers’ approval, Mario Leclerc, an variety of strategies for avoiding detec- editor at the Journal de Montreal, wrote tion. He would claim that he forgot his a biography: Jacques Demers: En glasses, or that he was too busy. He Toutes Lettres (“Jacques Demers: From would get assistant coaches to review A to Z”). Leclerc reveals the extraordi- contracts. He memorized complex nary life that Demers led, beginning statistics and player information. with a very difficult childhood, in Demers is a francophone. So when he which he, his mother, and siblings went to the United States to work, he endured a tyrannical, abusive father. claimed that his English wasn’t good This stressful childhood caused such enough. When he came back to work in distraction that schoolwork became Canada, he claimed that his French had impossible. Only in 2005, after Demers gotten rusty. He jumped through felt secure enough in his career, was he hoops—and it worked. The resourceful- finally able to admit to his condition in ness Demers demonstrated over the public. Why did he do it? He hopes to years is actually not that extraordinary. encourage others in a similar position to Most illiterate people use similar coping seek help, learn to read, and turn a bad strategies. What is extraordinary about break into an opportunity. Jacques Demers is that he was so successful in Demers is currently working on im- his career. Most illiterate people do not proving his literacy. Most of his adult aspire to develop their careers because life, he could read at a Grade 3 level. they fear the extra challenges will By 2005, he could read at a Grade 7 attract attention—and ultimately detec- level. tion. Demers, on the other hand became Activities 1. Create a timeline to highlight what you feel are the 10 most important dates in Jacques Demers’ life.

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