The NPR feature “Casting Aside Shame And Stigma, Adults Tackle Struggles With Literacy” (April 26, 2018) by Melissa Block and Marisa Peñaloza tells the deeply human stories of adults grappling with low literacy—and the transformative impact of compassionate tutoring. Through personal narratives and community programs, the article underscores the persistence of adult illiteracy in the U.S. and shines a light on grassroots efforts that lift learners out of shame and into growth.

Human Stories Behind the Numbers

In Winterport, Maine, 43-year-old Robert Hartmann quietly works with his tutor, Sandy DeLuck, on a copy of The Little Engine That Could. Reading at a first-grade level, he slowly sounds out the words, receiving gentle encouragement with every syllable. His struggle isn’t uncommon—Hartmann belongs to the approximately 35 million U.S. adults whose reading skills fall below a fourth-grade level, equating to one in six adults nationwide 

Hartmann’s journey includes undiagnosed learning disabilities, being passed through school, and a high school graduation that masked his foundational challenges. As an adult, he navigates manual labor and health struggles, and fears reading aloud to his children or admitting his limitations—even to his wife.

Another learner, Cindy Duell, carries memories of ridicule and discouragement from childhood into adulthood. Labeled “dumb” and marginalized at home and school, she dropped out in tenth grade and spent years compensating—faking reading in front of her children, relying on memorization, and dodging tasks at work that required literacy. Yet, through adult education, she earned her diploma and nursing assistant certification—demonstrating remarkable resilience under the weight of shame.

Breaking the Cycle of Shame

The nonprofit Literacy Volunteers of Bangor, part of the national ProLiteracy network, anchors these personal transformations. Founded in 1969, the organization has supported hundreds of adult learners annually through free, matched one-on-one tutoring. In many cases, new learners must wait for a spot because the need far exceeds capacity.

Tutors are carefully matched with learners by program manager Meredith Eaton—not just for skill level, but for personality and shared goals. She vividly recalls Hartmann's application session: he could barely write his name and address, and when asked about obstacles, said simply, “I don’t believe I can learn.” Eaton’s response wasn’t to dismiss the feeling—that deep shame is often rooted in lifelong messaging and judgment.

Duell’s tutor, Claire Levesque, eschews harsh corrections in red ink—a simple gesture that immediately reassured Duell. Their rapport, full of laughter and mutual respect, demonstrates that trust and dignity are the bedrock of effective adult literacy support.

Why It Matters

The article emphasizes that adult illiteracy remains a stubborn national issue, tied to socioeconomic barriers like poverty and unequal schooling. Shaming individuals for their literacy levels adds needless psychological burden—and most importantly, blocks access to life-changing support .

Programs like Literacy Volunteers of Bangor not only teach phonics or word recognition—they help learners reclaim confidence, independence, and self-worth. Cindy’s proud achievement—completing a vehicle application entirely on her own after years of hiding her struggle—illustrates the broader significance: literacy empowers, not just academically, but in identity and autonomy.

Full Article Source

Melissa Block & Marisa Peñaloza, “Casting Aside Shame And Stigma, Adults Tackle Struggles With Literacy,” NPR All Things Considered, April 26, 2018. Available at: https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/04/26/602797769/casting-aside-...

Original Article

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