SAMPLE STUDY GUIDE
“Literacy and the Politics of Education” by C. H. Knoblauch (1990)
Ideology – a system network of related beliefs and values. Ideology is both shaped by how we see the world and shapes how we see it.
Agenda – the actions that a person takes to advance or preserve (that is keep as the dominant view) his or her ideology. One such act is the way a person defines literacy.
Power – the ability to control the advancement (economically as in jobs, intellectually as in school, or socially as in status) of others.
Literacy – a term that generally describes ability to understand language (usually written) but is specifically defined in many different ways by different groups with different ideologies and agendas.
Functional, cultural, personal growth, and critical literacies are all key terms defined below.
Knoblauch’s goal in the essay is to show that there are many different definitions of literacy and each not only explains what literacy is but also indicates the ideology and agenda that the group defining it in a specific way has. Defining is an act which is part of the group’s agenda to preserve or advance its ideology. Knoblauch’s point is not that it is good or bad that what a group beliefs and values shape how that group defines literacy. He does think that we need to be aware of this rather than think there is only one definition and it is not connected to ideology.
Knoblauch supports his thesis by analyzing four different definitions of literacy that are currently in use. After defining each sense of literacy, he analyzes the function of language implied by each and the ideology and agenda that underlies and shapes the definition.
Functional Literacy The ability to read and write at a level that allows a person to survive in a society that uses writing extensively. Allows one to fill out job applications and perform activities from written instructions.
Language in this definition of literacy is neutral and only transfers information not values. It is a utilitarian use of language that sees it as a tool.
Ideology and agenda are that minimal ability to read and write allows survival (a job at McDonalds) but this also keeps those who are functionally literate at that low level of power (economic and social). Those who are functionally literate, who can barely read and write, will not become managers or leaders to promote change in society. This definition preserves the existing power distribution in society and assumes it is OK.
Cultural literacy Reading and writing not only at a level that allows one to survive but careful reading of certain kinds of writing that preserve our cultural values. To be literate one reads high culture literature (Shakespeare not detective novels), history (e.g. Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights), and speaks decorously.
Language is what holds our cultural values and unifies our society. There is a “proper” language.
Ideology and agenda include a belief that other ethnic heritages should be assimilated (melting pot where others become “American”) and if they refuse to give up their ethnicity they should be denied power (marginalized). To be literate in this way we should read and write about the classics not movies or Mtv. Preserves a purity (the good old days) and distribution of power and argues that even more power should be given to the “truly” educated and highly cultured.
Personal Growth Literacy Reading and writing are a means to self discovery by developing our imagination and lead us to be more accepting and better people. Literacy helps us become “well rounded”.
Language expresses and exercises our imagination.
Ideology and agenda are broad acceptance of many cultures and ethnicities with the hope that we can live together even if we are different. Seeks to change attitudes on the personal level (e.g. promoting multiculturalism) without changing institutions (“the system”)
Critical Literacy Reading, writing, and thinking at a level that allows critical analysis of social and cultural issues and to promote change of institutions (“the system”) where necessary.
Language is a means to power.
Ideology and agenda seek to evaluate the fairness of social and cultural norms (the status quo), skeptically evaluate the distribution of power, and through writing and speaking contribute to attempts to change and improve “the system”.
Possible exam questions