The Wealth

Behind Literacy

Emily Essick

A Reading Mother
by Stickland Gillilan

Strickland Gillilan, American poet, 1869 - 1954

Famous for his poem, A Reading Mother.
You may have tangible wealth untold; caskets of
jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can
never be. I had a mother who read to me.

Major Theme:
There is an abundance of wealth behind literacy.

The Importance of Literacy

Throughout History
Stone Age/Prehistoric/Ancient Egypt
Cave writings, Cuneiform, Drawing and Artwork

Slavery
By 1865, about 9% of slaves had learned to read and write.

Industrial Revolution
Books and Literature became more widely available during the
industrial revolution due to the invention of the printing press.

Present
In todays society, having an education is linked to successfulness.

Sponsors of Literacy
Sponsors of literacy, according to Brandt, can be
any agents, local or distant, concrete or
abstract, who enable, support, teach, model, as
well as recruit, regulate, suppress, or withhold
literacyand gain advantage by it in some way.
I refer to these sponsors as my sponsors of wealth.

My Sponsors of Wealth

My Parents Encouragement and

Support

25%

25%

Curiosity - Self-Ambition

High School Teachers Education

15%

35%
HOSA - Future Health
Professionals Opportunity

We Learn From Our Family

Research, Research, Research