RLR 515 Social, Cultural, and Historical Foundations of Literacy

This course provides an introduction to the historical, political, social, ethnic, racial, and cultural foundations of literacy and literacy education, including biliteracy, in the United States. Candidates will examine literacy from pre-colonial times to the present to better understand how literacy learning has been utilized as a tool of power, oppression, and empowerment. From indigenous language erasure, colonial biliteracy efforts, anti-literacy laws, post-war anti-biliteracy sentiments, school segregation, and English-only legislation to high-stakes testing and mandated literacy curriculum, literacy education has often been uneven and exclusionary. This course examines literacy movements and initiatives that both uphold and push back on these exclusionary and repressive practices as candidates consider questions such as: Who was/is literacy for? Who benefited (and benefits) most from literacy education? What language/dialect is privileged in literacy education? Finally, candidates will consider what history reveals about inclusive and empowering literacy education. Pre-requisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None. 3 semester hours