Second part of Literacy
9. What is your earliest memory of materials for reading and writing? Where di you encounter those? Who would have put them in that place? Why?
I always had a book shelf full of books in my room my parents read to me and once I could read alone, I did. We always had books, newspapers and magazines. I grew out the picture books very quickly though. I really liked the American Girl-based series earlier then the recommended "age 8".
10. What is your earliest memory of a library? Of a librarian?
I don't remember her name but I remember the local public librarian and library in our neighborhood on 51st Street in Milwaukee. I remember getting my library card the second I could write my name and getting it in a special folder. I was quite proud of myself.
11. Why did your forebears learn to read and write? Who "sponsored' their literacy.
I'm sure many learned for religious reasons (Jewish side--Torah, Christian side--Bible) also practical reasons like running a shop or calculating figures. My family is probably slightly more educated then others.
12.What economic or material changes did they experience that affected their literacy skills?
World War Two certainly changed a great deal, for my Russian-Jewish ancestors moving to American meant learning to read and write in English as well as knowing the same in Yiddish.
13. Why did you, yourself, learn to read and write? Who "sponsored" your literacy skills?
I'm sure that it was relief to my parents that whatever disorganization I have in my life habits I took to reading easily because there were books everywhere and my parents read to me often. I love reading, I love books. I was "taught" to read for French class but was sponsored by a family that believed in it.
14. How important is literacy in your life, compared with your forebears?
The fact that I want to be a Librarian probably speaks for the importance to me but I feel that for at least for my parents it is equally important.
Well, that's the part that was handed out in class. The actual one has even more information that was asked. Now, to see about getting to Love Feast this weekend...my very good friend from High School who I haven't seen for two years is finally going to come to an event that I can catch her at! I've missed her a lot and I'm really looking forward to seeing her again, it's going to be weird calling her Catalina rather then Becky.