Collection:LPB

Genre: Documentary

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-09-19

Duration: 00:28:31

Subjects: Literacy | Education | Reading | Economy

Contributors:

• Myers, Laura Host
• Nachman, Karen Host
• Jackson, Jim Interviewee
• Randle, Zelma Interviewee
• Abreu, Jackie Interviewee
• Epling, Carrell Interviewee
• Gatlin, Madora Interviewee
• Dotson-Handy, Hattie Interviewee
• Gossett, Glenn Interviewee
• Haigler, Karl Interviewee
• Washington, Wilfred Interviewee
• Lundy, George Interviewee
• Wellar, Mae Interviewee
• Moe, Alden Interviewee
• Early, Mike Interviewee
• Thompson, Francis Interviewee
• Guidry, Alton Interviewee
• MacMurdo, Alice Interviewee
• Steimel, Ed Interviewee
• Banks, Synn Claire Interviewee
• Schad, Ted Interviewee
• Brown, Temple Interviewee
• Wilson, Willis Interviewee
• Miller, Joe Interviewee
• Little, Bill Interviewee
• Sands, Shirley Interviewee
• Corkern, Judy Interviewee
• Menard, Miriam Interviewee
• Nason, Francine Interviewee
• Reed, Lila May Interviewee
• Laubach, Robert Interviewee

This program from September 19, 1986, features Laura Myers and Karen Nachman reporting on Louisiana’s 16% illiteracy rate, the highest illiteracy rate in the country. This local program followed a national broadcast on the issue. Their report touches on: the causes of illiteracy, including poverty; the cycles of illiteracy; the economic impact of illiteracy; and the adult literacy programs around the state. They interview: Jim Jackson, literacy student; Zelma Randle, literacy student; Jackie Abreu, Operation Mainstream; Carrell Epling, educator; Madora Gatlin, literacy student; Hattie Dotson-Handy, Operation Upgrade; Glenn Gossett, Louisiana Department of Education; Karl Haigler, United States Department of Education; Wilfred Washington, literacy student; Father George Lundy, Loyola University; Mae Wellar, literacy student; Dr. Alden Moe, LSU; Mike Early, New Orleans City Council; State Representative Francis Thompson; Alton Guidry, literacy student; Sister Alice MacMurdo, plantation education program; Ed Steimel, business leader; Synn Claire Banks, Popeye’s; Ted Schad, Lou Ana Foods; Temple Brown, Brown’s Velvet Dairy; Willis Wilson, inmate; Dr. Joe Miller, Charity Hospital; Bill Little, business leader; Shirley Sands, tutor; Judy Corkern, Human Resources Development Institute; Miriam Menard, tutor; Sister Francine Nason, plantation education program; Lila May Reed, Oaklawn Plantation; and Dr. Robert Laubach, Laubach Literacy International.