People who can't read and aren't embarrassed.

[PaulB]

Last week, I needed emergency dental treatment at our local hozzy on a Sunday morning (so obviously no dentists open). Anyway, it wasn't just for dental treatment and there was a crowded waiting room. So people didn't have to reveal their problems, the receptionist was giving people forms to fill in with their details. One young woman in her 20s said to the receptionist, with no embarrassment whatsoever, "I'm not right good at reading and writing and that. Can you fill it in for me?"

And yesterday, I was in the foyer at Glasgow Royal Infirmary sitting opposite a coffee kiosk which was closed and had its shutters down. A young man walking past with his grandmother stopped and read the note that was on there taking an absolute age. The note said, "Coffee kiosk closed for refurbishment. We apoligise for the inconvenience but coffee is available in the reception area." The granny asked him why there was no coffee and he said, "It's closed because of the recession." !!!

 

[oxbob]

And your point is?

 

[yenrod]

Nowt qeer as folk.

 

[snapper_37]

And your point is?

The topic of the thread, obviously.

 

[Cycling Naturalist]

What have you posted?

 

[DJ]

It's true some people can't read very well or at all!!!!

 

[Danny]

There are of course all sorts of reasons why some people can't read or write - dyslexia being the most obvious example. Many of them suffer a lifetime of embarrassment as a result, so if anything it was positive that the young women in the hospital was prepared to admit she had a problem.

 

[Night Train]

Not everyone who is unable to fill out a form is thick or illiterate.

I am almost unable to fill out any but the most basic of forms. Not really sure why but it is probably part of my existing learning difficulties. It does mean that I get help with forms at College and University so that I can study my MSc and PGCE properly. I also prefer using employment agencies to get work as they convert, and update, my CV into the application form for the jobs they find for me.

 

[yello]

No crime in being thick either!

So someone can't fill a form in. Or read. As others have said, there are any number of reasons for that. I can imagine it's an everyday problem for them without having to deal with the judgement of others.

Agreed, it's surprising. You just figure most people can/do and so it kind of takes you back a bit to be asked to fill a form in for someone (it's happened twice to me). Figure it this way, it's little effort for you and it makes life a whole lot easier for them.

 

[DJ]

I've met loads of young men who are practically iliterate. It makes there lives and career opportunities limited!

On the other hand one of my best friends is very dislexic (Spelling)Lol he has made a success of his life and has done pretty well really. So if a person has the strength of character then, they can achieve things even when handicapped in that way.

 

[oxbob]

No crime in being thick either!

So someone can't fill a form in. Or read. As others have said, there are any number of reasons for that. I can imagine it's an everyday problem for them without having to deal with the judgement of others.

Agreed, it's surprising. You just figure most people can/do and so it kind of takes you back a bit to be asked to fill a form in for someone (it's happened twice to me). Figure it this way, it's little effort for you and it makes life a whole lot easier for them.

What Yello said +1

 

[snapper_37]

What Oxbob said...


+ 1

 

[buggi]

i think there are a lot more people out there who can't read and write and they haven't all got learning difficulties.

It's all a bit of a shame really, that they have fallen through the system in one way or another. I remember one kid had a bad attitude at school and everyone just thought he was naughty. looking back, i seem to remember he always had a bad home life. bet he thought no-one ever gave a poo about him.

i can remember one teacher telling me i'd never make my chosen career coz i was not clever enough and i should be more realistic. i was only 12. and the general feeling was that if you were in Set 5 or below (there were 9 sets and set 4 and above was "upper band") then you would end up working in Sainsbury's. That, my natural shyness (if you can believe that!) and the school bullies pretty much meant i didn't achieve anything at school. I had my review at work the other day and it was brill. My boss wonders why i find it amazing every time he tells me i'm intelligent and says I shouldn't be afraid to ask questions even if i feel it might make me look thick, coz that's what holds me back, and people who think you are thick are just small minded. i don't suppose any amount of explaining would make him understand that it probably stems from school.

my mum feels the same. bad teachers that used to tell her off when she didn't "get" things first time, meant she became afraid to ask, and now wants to learn a language but doesn't want to go to a class in case she can't keep up.

 

[Cycling Naturalist]

i think there are a lot more people out there who can't read and write and they haven't all got learning difficulties.

It's all a bit of a shame really, that they have fallen through the system in one way or another. .

One of my teachers at school was in the last year to do National Service. He'd just finished reading maths at Cambridge, so he was made a Sergeant Instructor teaching remedial squaddies to read and write. He was given six weeks to do it and told that he'd be in trouble himself if they didn't learn.

Although he was horrified initially, he said that it turned out to be quite easy. The first discipline problem was dealt with by having the lad run round and round the parade ground in the pouring rain. A corporal pointed out that if they were literate, then they could read porn - of which there was a more than adequate supply on the base. The lads had nothing else to do and got on with learning with considerable enthusiasm, and nearly all of them got up to the appropriate standard in a fortnight.

 

[Lardyboy]

My mother was a teacher, then a headteacher and she never failed to get any pupil leaving her primary school unable to read or write. It's a matter of getting the child interested or having a motive for learning. She has very little time for the modern teaching "issues" of difficult children or "mass" dyslexia that seems to have occurred over the last ten years.