On Thursday, January 6, 2011, Dr. Marjorie Empacher, who holds a PhD from Boston University, shared with fellow Rotarians, her long standing work as a tutor for illiterate adults on the North Shore of Boston. Â Dr. Empacher spoke at length about a case study she conducted, while teaching a twenty-seven years old woman how to read, and how she used her analysis of the factors contributing to this particular illiteracy case, for her PhD dissertation. Â Dr. Empacher’s research concluded that the lack of language stimulation before formal schooling and the subsequent endless social promotion contributed to the development of an adult with debilitating inferiority complexes.
In this particular case, what made things worse, according to Dr. Empacher, was the fact that the whole town discriminated against this woman’s family. Â Dr. Empacher noted, that while Marblehead schools have been effectively addressing this particular problem for the past ten-fifteen years, the Massachusetts Rehabilitation in Salem, MA continues to uncover similar adult illiteracy cases throughout the North Shore. Â For further information about how to improve your own literacy skills or how join the fight against adult illiteracy in our area, please contact Dr. Empacher at 781-631-7467.
(from left to right): Â Marblehead Rotary Club President, Marsha Christensen with club member, Dr. Marjorie Empacher.