Masonic Educational Quiz #9A

Internet Version

The following educational quiz is a part of the continuing program of the Masonic Education Committee of the Grand Lodge to provide a monthly educational program for lodge use. It should be passed on to the Lodge Education officer.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT DYSLEXIA?

1. WHAT IS IT AND HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE IT?

(a) Webster’s dictionary & thesaurus defines it as “a nervous trouble interfering with the ability to read or comprehend what is read. It interferes with the acquisition and processing of language. The word comes from the Greek “dys” (meaning poor or inadequate and “lexis” (words or language).

(b)The pronunciation shown is (disléksi:) dys-LEX-i-a.

2. HOW DOES IT INTERFERE WITH READING?

(a) An example might be: The word “dog” might register in the brain as “god” or “dgo” The word reindeer might register to the dyslectic as reinbeer.

3. DO ALL PEOPLE WITH READING PROBLEMS HAVE DYSLEXIA?

(a) No! Although most dyslexics have reading problems, not all people with reading problems have dyslexia.

4. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ESTIMATED TO BE EFFECTED BY THE CONDITION?

(a) One in ten children will have some degree of dyslexia with about one in twenty-five (about one for each class.) being affected severely. Most of the severely affected will need some special teaching at some time during their schooling.

(b) About 85 percent of the children with learning disabilities have their basic deficit in language and reading. That is more than 2 million school children in the U. S.

5. IS THERE A KNOWN CURE FOR THE DISEASE?

FIRST, IT IS NOT A DISEASE. IT IS A LEARNING DISABILITY OR HANDICAP.

(a) There is no cure. However, appropriate teaching and the use of coping strategies may moderate it effects significantly.

6. IS THIS JUST A CHILDHOOD PROBLEM?

(a) NO! A child does not grow out of it. It will need to be coped with all of the person’s life.

(b) Most adults today who have dyslexia were never diagnosed as such and never received any special educational help. It is not unusual for these people to have difficulty reading even as adults.

7. WHAT CAN BE DONE?

(a) Individuals with dyslexia need special structured language programs to learn to read, write etc. Regular programs are not always effective. They may be taught to use more than one of the senses to communicate and comprehend. For example, a child might go from a 4th-grade reading level to a 7th-grade level in one year with special help. Think what that would do to improve grades.

8. WHAT CAN OUR GRAND LODGE DO?

(a) The public school system has been charged with the responsibility to work with this problem but the simple fact is that NO money has been made available for such a program.

(b) A clinic established in facilities on the grounds of the Grand Lodge site could reach hundreds of children.

Used in _______________Lodge on ______________