ESSAY #2

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Literacy functions are different in every community. Fishman and Royster’s essays describe how they differ in two separate communities.

Fishman’s essay was about a modern Amish community. Bringing out two different kinds of literacy, Fishman was able to compare the Amish and their ways of literacy to normal everyday American literacy. First of all, Old Order Amish Literacy is describing the Amish and how they are censored. They only read books that older "wiser" people in their community recommend. They go to uneducated schools, where uneducated teachers (that happened to grow up being taught in the same kind of school) taught. There was only one school for about eight grades, and to make matters worse, the school only had one room. Everyone moved at the same pace. For example, if a child went to visit the school one day, not even being old enough to attend, they wouldn’t even be confused as to what to do because the teacher told everyone what to do and how to do it allowing everyone to help each other. None of them even knew how to read. All of their lives they had grown up memorizing words. Never actually learning them or their meanings. They had a set way to write letters, so, when they got mail, which was always from a fellow Amish neighbor, they’d read it to their family and then get help in writing them back. They never had to learn how to read properly because their society never called for the knowledge. Next, in comparing, Fishman mentioned Main-Stream American Literacy. Noticing how uncensored the rest of our literature is. Plus, we go to school where teachers teach us that had to have previous higher education experience. We have to learn how to read. Not just what the words look like, but actually how they are spelled and why and what they mean.

Royster’s essay mentions, black women and how they were and are treated. Back when there was slavery, blacks were not allowed to read and write. Since then, black people have slowly gained more privileges. Yet, even today black women still are not heard. Many black women have done great things but they are not acknowledged for them.

ESSAY #2

The Fishman essay and the Royster essay both describe two particular
communities. Fishman tells about the Amish way of life. Royster describes the black
woman’s struggle.

In the Fishman essay, the Amish way of life is revealed. The Amish see literacy as a way to function in their society. Their definition of literacy differs from that of Main Stream American. Children of the Old Amish Order learn to read and write, by their definition, before they ever attend school. As a young child, they do not want to be left out of family events that require being able to read and write. The parents don’t want them to be left out either. So they make a system-like way for the children to participate. For example, when they write letters to family members the children tell their parent or older relative what they want to say in the letter. Afterwards the children copy letter by letter the note so that it is in their handwriting. Sometimes they draw pictures on them as well. Does this mean that these children are literate? According to the Main stream American, no. But according to the Amish, they are. Different communities have different definitions of literacy.

In the Royster essay, the struggle black women faced in having their voices heard is explained. These women’s voices were never heard because of their race. Even though some of these black women writers were good, they were not taken seriously. These women were persistent. They didn’t give up. It is because of their ability to write that they were able to break the barrier and become heard.

Knoblauch gives definitions for both of these forms of literacy. For the Amish, it was literacy in culture. Their definition is based on their culture. It is what they needed to survive in their society. ( Functional) For the black women, their literacy is described as power. They used their words and speeches to set them free. Literacy to them is power. it was powerful enough to let them be heard throughout the world.

ESSAY #2

Fishman and Royster both examined the ways literacy functions in different communities. They are similar to Scribner’s three Metaphores of Literacy in many ways.

First, Fishman wrote about the way the Amish view literacy. According to the Amish, literacy is the act of memorizing and being able to recognize key features. They only know enough to get by in their own society. An example, they memorize shapes on street signs. This is similar to Scribner’s Metaphore, Literacy as Adaptation in that one only learns enough to adapt within one’s own society.

Next, Fishman focuses on the way the "normal" or "well-rounded" people in the American society function. The children are introduced to the way society should be, at an early age through schools. The children attend schools until they are able to function within our society, alone. These individuals in this society are opposite to those in the Amish society, where as, they don’t memorize, they actually learn. When something is memorized, it may stick in a persons mind for a short period of time and then exit the brain. In the public schools and private, things are learned, which means they most likely will be remembered for a life time and as the individual grows older, more advanced teachings of the same thing will be added upon the simple "learned" items. This society most likely compared to Scribner’s Metaphore Literacy as power. With a knowledgeable brain, one is able to conquer many things and ideas.

Finally, Royster examined the Black community. There are many people who, in the 20 th century, feel that blacks are in minority. Royster focused on the thought, many individuals in our society believe that Blacks are not very "literate experienced." When research was taken, it showed that many more black women than expected, were able to read and write. I feel that this compares to the metaphore literacy as a State of Grace. Blacks most likely not given the recognition they deserve. This essay was a State of Grace because those who read this essay see that there is a wide variety of blacks in our society who do more with their lives than they get credit for.

In conclusion, there are many different ways people are able to survive within our American society. Some ways are simple and some are complex. The thing to always remember is, no matter how simple or how complex, the literacy for different individuals is, everyone is able to survive in our community in their own ways.