CHAPTER XI


 THE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE


 The objective of the literacy phase of basic adult education
is the attainment of the developmental stage. At this stage, the
student has attained a level of maturity in reading where he can
participate independently in most of the reading activities essen-
tial to full participation in a literate society. He has the
essential skills and knowledge that provide the means whereby, if
so motivated, he can continue to grow on his own. This does not
mean that people on this stage cannot profit from more formal
instruction in reading. Certainly they can' But wide reading and
study in various fields will, in itself, promote further reading
growth.

 The student who has reached a ninth grade reading ability
following a program in basic adult education will have been intro-
duced to such general magazines as Reader's Digest, Look, Life and
perhaps even Time, U. S. News and World Report and Newsweek. He
will also have been made aware of some general magazines written for
men such as True or Sports Afield. The student will have been
encouraged to use the local library facilities and classroom usage
of the local newspaper will have ingrained the habit of reading a
daily newspaper. Further formal education will develop his skills
in various subject matter areas. But his big growth at this stage
will occur because he reads independently for recreation and for
knowledge.

 Some students will elect to take a formal course in develop-
mental reading. These are often offered in a high school equivalency
program and they are sometimes given for adult high school credit.
This type of program often enrolls adults who have completed high
school but who feel a need for some more formal work in reading.
Ideally, such a course should be offered by all large adult schools.

 In many schools there are special developmental reading
courses for high school graduates who, after a lapse of time, have
decided to go on to college. These people wish to brush up on
their reading skills and extend their reading power before entering
college. Stress in such courses is on developing depth of vocabu-
lary, study type reading skills, and speed of reading. This type
of course is also helpful for those students who wish to take a high
school equivalency examination. Often improved reading skills is
the key to passing such an examination.

 A developmental reading course for adults that has become
popular is the course designed for business and professional people
who wish formal help in increasing their reading speed. Such a


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