New Literacy

The New Literacy movement in North America and Britain, covering every stage of education from primary school to higher education, aims to go beyond the idea of functional literacy to make reading a powerful weapon by means of which students can take control of their world socially and politically. John Willinsky's book assesses the effectiveness of the various programmes which the movement has spawned. It assesses the practical effectiveness of their efforts to foster a new level of literate engagement among students who may previously have felt disadvantaged in this area and to create a less authoritarian workplace in which to learn about and practice the language. At the same time it draws out the common philosophy which links these programmes together. This will be an inspirational as well as an informative text for all who are involved in the creation of a truly literate society.