As I reflect on my work as Instructional Specialist for the Literacy Council, the faces of former students come before me: the Ukrainian priest who was tortured by the KGB on more than one occasion; the Salvadoran mother of three whose husband left her; the lady from India whose husband had pushed her into a fire; and the nurse from Cuba who nearly died on a raft on the way to Florida. Most of the people with whom I have worked share two distinct traits: the need to improve their command of the English language and the drive to make it happen.
The determination of these learners, especially in the face of some very real challenges, never fails to inspire me, though the drive to improve or enrich one’s knowledge or skill set is by no means unique to recent immigrants and refugees. Arguably, the drive to better oneself is a characteristic endemic to humanity as a whole, and for Masons, this drive manifests as the desire to develop our knowledge and mastery of the Craft.
The development or improvement of the self assumes one thing, though – that one has the ability to read and write in the dominant language where one resides. As members of this Ancient Free and Accepted Order, we are called upon to shed Light in the darkened corners of the world. As Practitioners of the Craft, we work at improving ourselves, and one road to self-improvement is through helping others.
Teaching others to read, write, speak, and comprehend spoken English has been a labor of love for me. My current position at the Literacy Council of Montgomery County affords me the opportunity to work with some of our area’s most vulnerable residents – and most eager learners – as they seek to improve their skill sets and their knowledge of this new homeland.
I would argue that literacy in a pluralistic society like ours is a matter of urgency. In a culture composed of so many different elements, having a common means of communication becomes all the more important. This is not a call for some sort of “English only” rule or policy. Rather, it is merely acknowledgement of the fact that a shared base or foundation for communication is essential for any society – especially one as diverse as ours. I personally would never espouse any policy or law that would limit or curtail or devalue the language, heritage, or culture of others. One of our constitutionally-mandated freedoms is the freedom of expression, and this freedom extends to one’s choice of language. Indeed, the existence of Arminius Lodge, conducting Masonic Ritual as well as business and social activities in the German language, is a celebration of that freedom.
Yet a common language – indeed, a common parlance – is a requirement of any society which seeks peace, purpose, and prosperity. And so, my task is to provide recent immigrants the chance to become a part of the American fabric and to share in that peace, purpose, and prosperity.
America is a land of free thinkers, of artistic and intellectual movements, and of religious and philosophical freedom. This vista of learning and knowledge is open to all – to all who can read and write and speak in English. The Literacy Council and English teachers and volunteer tutors everywhere serve not only as language educators but as cultural ambassadors to that end.
Philip Bonner, Instructional Specialist
Literacy Council of Montgomery County, Maryland
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