Literacy issues
Speld NZ applauds David Seymour’s comments regarding literacy problems among prisoners (‘‘We need to deter repeat offenders’’, Focus, October 23).
However, it is imperative to point out that the reason many prisoners are functionally illiterate is dyslexia – undiagnosed and un-remediated during school years. An estimated 7-10 per cent of New Zealanders have dyslexia. But international studies estimate that 30-50 per cent of prisoners are dyslexic and a 2009 study of New Zealand youth offenders found 91 per cent with a learning disability. As a nationwide, not-for-profit dyslexia assessment and remediation provider, every day we are inundated with calls from distressed parents.
However we know there many other children whose learning disabilities are never detected or addressed. It’s critical they receive the support needed to learn differently so they don’t become disillusioned by their failure in the classroom, alienated from mainstream society and ultimately wind up in our prisons.
Peter Scanlan, chairman, Speld NZ The Government’s response to the burgeoning prison population is to announce the creation of 1800 new prison beds, an announcement accompanied by predictable rhetoric (‘‘look how tough I am’’) from the Police and Corrections Minister, Judith Collins.
Having previously worked for Corrections for many years I can say with certainty the root cause of anti-social behaviour is the fact there are too many parents who are ill equipped to raise children. All too often the children of such parents experience deprivation and abuse including witnessing, or being subject to domestic violence. Such negative formative influences are typical of those who appear before the courts.
In my view our society has become too complex and too competitive, and toxic substances are all too easy to obtain. Unless there is increased government investment in housing, health, welfare, and education, and much of that increased investment is focused on our most vulnerable families, things will get worse, not better.
Building more prisons is not the answer.
Bruce Anderson, Christchurch