Approximately 22% percent of Americans age 16 or older – 42 million people – are functionally illiterate, according to the 1993 National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS). 25% of the adult population in South Carolina functioned at Level 1 literacy, the lowest level defined by the National Institute for Literacy (NIL). 29% of adults in Horry County were at this level.

Merilyn Holcombe, trainer for the Horry County Literacy Council, reports that many adults work hard to hide their illiteracy. In her work for the Council, Holcombe has seen high school graduates who made it through school without having their illiteracy discovered. "One person had actually played sports in college. The school had always provided tutoring for him, but he finally faced the fact that he needed to learn to read," she said.

The reasons for illiteracy can vary. "Some people never got to high school; others had physical or mental problems. Personal or family illnesses might have interfered with their reading abilities. Sometimes people are simply ready to read later than their grade level."

Adults who function at Level 1 literacy can often perform tasks involving simple text and documents, but have trouble because their reading skills are so limited. "Some can read at a third grade level, but they need to take literacy training in order to get better jobs, and to be able to help their children," said Jane Powell, who is learning to train tutors for the Literacy Council.

Powell, Holcombe, and other trainers for the Literacy Council are gearing up for the Tutor Training Workshop, to be held tomorrow and Saturday at Chapin Memorial Library. The workshop is free of charge, and open to people age 18 or older. Those who complete the 10-hour program will receive certification as Laubach tutors.

"The basic Laubach series consists of four books with a strong phonetic base," said Holcombe, "aimed at adult interests and needs: cooking, cleaning, getting a job, using want ads, writing a check, fishing, and hunting." The Laubach Literacy Method is used to build reading skills in English-speaking adults, and also to help teach English as a second language.

Carolyn Steiner, coordinator for the Horry County Literacy Council, reports that there are approximately 95 volunteers at the moment (not all, however, are currently active.) Approximately 75 students have been placed with tutors. Currently, 24 people are waiting for volunteers who can help them learn to read.

Steiner hopes that new volunteer tutors for those on the waiting list will be found at the workshop tomorrow and Saturday. She emphasized that tutors do not need degrees to be effective. "You must be a fairly good reader, and you must have compassion and patience," she said. "We have a lot of retired teachers and professionals, and also younger people with full-time jobs, who have just felt a need to do something for the community."

Jane Powell, who taught English in Fairfax County, VA, before moving to Myrtle Beach, agrees that empathy is an important quality for a literacy tutor. "Many of the students are adults, and teaching adults is quite different from teaching children. They already have so much life experience and language. You start with what they already know, and work from there."

Tutoring for students is free and confidential. The duration varies with each student. "Being adults, they have their own responsibilities. There's no way to give an average," said Merilyn Holcombe. "We try to bring them to a level where they can go into an adult education program, or into technical training."

Background data in the NALS report demonstrates that adults who function at Level 1 literacy tend to be at a great societal disadvantage. Nearly half (43 percent) live in poverty. This contrasts with only 4%-8% of those at the two highest literacy levels.

Scott Mercer, executive director of elementary schools for Horry County, reports that 79% of eighth-graders in South Carolina scored at basic or below basic skill levels on Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests (PACT), administered in April 1999.

Mercer is familiar with the Council from his tenure as principal of Conway Elementary School, where the Council has its office. He is extremely supportive of efforts to teach reading skills to adults. "Anything we can do to encourage a more literate society will help the children," he said.

Merilyn Holcombe agreed, and added, "Many children who struggle in school have parents who struggle with reading. If we could help the adults, it would flow over into the whole system."

The Horry County Literacy Council will sponsor a Tutor Training Workshop at Chapin Memorial Library on Friday, January 14, from 6:30-9:30 PM, and Saturday, January 15 from 9:30 AM–4:30 PM. Tutors from all areas of Horry County are needed, especially from Loris and Conway. Call 248-6140 to register, or register in person at the Chapin Memorial Library on Friday, January 14, at 6:00PM.