ERIC Number: ED296278
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1988-Apr-25
Pages: 20
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Frank C. Laubach, Literacy Pioneer.
Kearney, Linda
A fervent idealist whose dream was to eliminate illiteracy throughout the world, Frank C. Laubach sought to bring Christianity to the masses by giving them the ability to read and spread the teachings of the Bible. In working with people in the nonindustrialized nations, Laubach also saw the need for economic and political self-sufficiency. He believed literacy could be a means of emancipation for the downtrodden. During his lifetime, Laubach personally conducted literacy campaigns in 65 countries and helped to prepare literacy charts and primers in 312 different languages. Laubach's literacy work began in the Philippines, where he developed a system using "key words" to teach consonant and vowel sounds--and ultimately words--to the Moro people, a group of Moslem Filipinos. During the 1930s Laubach developed phonetic primers, including key word charts, in hundreds of languages for use in India, Africa, and Asia. He spread the word of "lightning literacy," the ability to teach an illiterate to read in a few short lessons. When he could not travel in Asia during World War II, he focused his attention on Central and South America. The thrust of Laubach's work for many years was not illiteracy in the United States, but illiteracy in countries where the majority of people could not read. In the 1950s, however, Laubach's methods were adapted for Americans. (One chart is included, and 11 references are appended.) (MM)
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative; Historical Materials; Opinion Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Philippines
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A