Abby’s Lament: Does Literacy Matter

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Abby’s Lament starts off the beginning paragraph talking about Abby and how she doesn’t believe that her voice can be heard and that her opinion doesn’t matter. Yagelski believes she is wrong, everyone’s opinion matters in society. He believes that it can be heard through education and comprehension of literature. After the opening paragraph the essay goes into how Yagelski was at a high school talking to teachers and students about how during this era of technology and the internet that it is easier for people to make their voice be heard and to make a difference. When he makes the point that everyone can make their voice heard, Abby, one of the students said that hers does not matter in society and it can’t make an impact. Yagelski realizes that Abby is somewhat right, “Abby’s experiences in the world contradicts much of what her English teachers—and other representatives of the educational and political establishment, including me… (Pg.4)” Yagelski realizes that Abby’s teachings are flawed because the teachings make her believe that her opinions matter to those above and below her when in reality they don’t. He then says that everyone has an equal voice and opinion but it only matters based on where your spot in the social pyramid is. Yagelski then lists several ways for someone’s voice to be heard within their area of the social pyramid; the suggestions were made for someone is a normal person. Some of them were: to submit a petition to a town council or school board, to respond to a request to sign a petition, to understand the minimum wage law announcement posted on a bulletin board at a workplace. Even though these acts may seem simple and easy to do they make the person have social capital in their area of the social pyramid. Yagelski finishes up his essay by saying that his job as an educator isn’t to just teach students how to read or write but to help
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