Cultural Literacy According To E.d. Hirsch :: Education Literacy Educational Essays

According to E.D. Hirsch, to be culturally literate is to possess the basicinformation to thrive in the modern world. It is the grasp on the backgroundinformation that writers and speakers assume their audience already has. Inhis book, Cultural Literacy What Every American Needs to Know, Hirsch setsforth 5,000 essential words and phrases of which each person should beknowledgeable. The distinguish ranges from idioms to mythology, from science to fairytales. Why has this list prompted a notable debate on our countrys educationalstandards? E.D. Hirsch believes that the literacy of American people has beenrapidly declining. The long range quicken for restoring and improving Americanliteracy must be to institute a policy of imparting earthy information in ourschools. In short, according to Hirsch - the answer to our bother lies withinthe list.Hirschs book explains the importance of the need of a higher level of nationalliteracy. His main argument is that cultural literacy is required for effectivecommunication and the cooperation of some people... Communication is whatHirsch sees is essential for success in todays society. Communication is thekey to equality in America. With increased cultural literacy, an egalitariansociety is eventually possible. One common body of knowledge for everyone willbe the glue that holds society together.Hirsch also points out the senselessness of concepts such as multi-culturalismand multi-lingualism. He acknowledges the importance of the numerous culturesand ethnicities of which get together States is comprised. Hirsch mentions thehyphenated American the Italo-American, the Polish-American, the Afro-American, the Asian-American and so forth. He points out that he is in favorof each minoritys protection, nurture, and respect however, he strongly feelsthat people need to root what American message on the other side of thehyphen...what national values and traditions really belong to national culturalliteracy. American cultural li teracy should be based on our traditions -- piety of tolerance and benevolence, the Golden Rule, communal cooperation,altruism and freedom. It is in this way that Hirsch argues those in oppositionof cultural literacy. Many opponents question Hirschs view by questioning whowould decide this common body of knowledge for everyone. People debate what isincludedin the list on the basis of multiculturism. They ask, is theknowledge equally important to every citizen of the United States no subject field whatrace, gender or religion? Hirsch responds by putting the emphasis on the otherside of the hyphen - the American side.When reading Hirschs book, I strongly concord with his big picture of culturalliteracy and agree that it is important to establish a common body of knowledge