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Thoughts on E.D. Hirsch’s, Literacy and Cultural Literacy

Immediately, upon reading Hirsch’s essay, I realized much of what passes for education may indeed be a form of pandering to special interests. Although, intellectually, I agree with the concept that cultural literacy “is essentially and constantly changing,” there is that part of me that is a Luddite in the practice of teaching. However, there is so much more that I find I agree with; that gives rise to questions and observations that are part of my experience.

When Hirsch, paraphrasing Martin Luther King, Jr., states people should, “deal with each other as equals and judge each other on their characters and achievements,” my heart swells at the concept of a nation that is more quickly rather than slowly approaching that day. Hirsch, adding Thomas Jefferson to the argument, very simply believes that to get there we require universal literacy as it “is inseparable from democracy.” Summing up the argument, Hirsch exclaims that all of this is “meaningless if a citizen is disenfranchised by illiteracy.” This thought gets to the core of a statement, probably more political than educational, that this argument engenders. That kernel of truth is what I call the greatest lie of politicians and pundits; “You can’t fool the American people. They’re too smart.” It seems to me that what Hirsch maintains is that with the decline in cultural literacy in the United States comes an ill-informed public who, because of its lack of a common frame of reference, becomes distrustful of the system and is doomed to permanent disenfranchisement, because there is the lack of an educational commonality upon which we may all grow…and create a vibrant, growing nation.

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