Measuring Results

The mission of Classic Book Radio is to improve literacy by broadcasting readings of classic works of literature over the radio.

I was looking at some grant organizations the other day, on websites.  One of the issues they bring up is having a way to measure the effect of the project.

We do have a bit of a handle on local literacy through success rates at the local schools.  Lowndes County School District is required to measure their student’s proficiency at reading.  The most recent figures you can find here.  The schools in our listening area are West Lowndes Elementary, Middle and High.

For people above school age, there is a national estimate of literacy, by county, here.  But that does not seem to be repeated very often.

A direct poll of the population would be nice.  That would cost a lot of $$!

To me it is a sensible proposition:  People hear a good story and at minimum they are then more “culturally literate” about some of the best literature ever produced in the English language.  They hear new words, expanding their vocabulary.  And they feel more comfortable picking up a book on their own.

A next step after hearing a story would be to read along.  Our plan is to facilitate that by publishing our program in advance and by the happy coincidence of having the public domain texts all available for free on the net.  I guess we could try to measure that by looking at download rate for the text files.  I’ll have to ponder on that idea a bit.

I believe there is a correlation between literacy and economic success.  If that is true, a long-range measure would be to see our neighborhood prosper.

Literacy Rate – Lowndes County, Mississippi

I found some online statistics about literacy in Lowndes County, MS.

In 1992 the percentage of the population lacking “basic prose literary skills” was estimated at 21%. In 2003 that number had improved to 16%. I don’t know if it is fair to extrapolate another 10 years, but if it were, 2013 would be at 11%.

Do you think 11% of the population in our area should be kept away from The Tale of Two Cities because they cannot read?

(And the situation in the next county south of us is: 2003 – 28% lacking “basic prose literary skills”)

I think classic literature has timeless value. Sure, a lot of more modern works also are valuable and I would broadcast those if I had the ability to do so. But the old stuff is good and it is freely available.

The leap to be made is whether hearing The Tale of Two Cities on the radio would actually improve the literacy situation. Isn’t that an interesting question? I think we should try it and find out.

The only way to make that happen is that either a) it has to have commercial viability for some station to switch from the current radio fare or b) someone like you will offer to help set up, fund and run a non-profit to do it.

Here is an opportunity, for the price of a used car we can try it out and see what happens. I hope you will join us.