Sir, - Recently I read of the need in a rural area for people to submit their names as tutors in an adult education scheme for those who were unlucky enough to have gone through the school system without a workable knowledge of reading and writing.
Usually these positions are taken up by people in the professions - doctors, bank officials, teachers and retired professional folk who wish to give something back to the community, who are quite often the same people involved in the many charitable bodies which also operate in a rural locality. All very laudable and deserving of gratitude, especially as it is done without any self-interest in mind.
But there is also the aspect that many who are in need of this service are from the lower socio-economic section of society, living in council estates (if they are lucky), and in the normal course of their day they are unlikely to have contact with those mentioned, especially in a social context, which the scheme by its nature demands. My point is that it is important for those living among neighbours disadvantaged in literacy skills to also put their names forward with a view to helping out.
There is no valid reason to believe those who are themselves from a poor background but who are nonetheless articulate and intelligent, and imbued with the sensitivity to respect the confidentiality clause which the work entails, could not do a fine job in passing on their knowledge. Very often people who wish to improve their reading and writing are put off because they feel awkward approaching a body they may see as "above" themselves. If they knew of someone from "up the road" whom they were familiar with, they could find it easier to approach him or her. I don't know of anyone, over the years, who fits this description of voluntary adult education tutor. Not in the places I've lived, anyway. - Yours, etc., Robert O'Sullivan,
Bantry, Co Cork.