The Moral Case for Building a Bridge Out of the Literacy Crisis

Greg Twemlow's "The Moral Case for Building a Bridge Out of the Literacy Crisis" argues for a transformative approach to literacy education, highlighting the profound societal cost of failing to teach children to read. The article uses the tragic story of Chris Drage to illustrate how educational shortcomings can lead to devastating consequences, advocating for a shift from a "reproduction model" to a "transformation model" in schooling. Twemlow proposes a "Reading Confidence Accelerator" that leverages the "science of reading" and AI-powered tools to empower students and foster a love for reading. The piece underscores the importance of a "Triad of Transformation" involving students, teachers, and communities, while also suggesting that AI can now enable individuals to overcome systemic inertia and build their own path to literacy. Ultimately, it poses a stark question: will society collectively address this crisis, or will individuals, empowered by technology, lead a "civic revolution" in literacy? Read the article.About the Author - Greg Twemlow writes and teaches at the intersection of technology, education, and human judgment. He works with educators and businesses to make AI explainable and assessable in classrooms and boardrooms — to ensure AI users show their process and own their decisions. His cognition protocol, the Context & Critique Rule™, is built on a three-step process: Evidence → Cognition → Discernment — a bridge from what’s scattered to what’s chosen. Context & Critique → Accountable AI™. © 2025 Greg Twemlow. “Context & Critique → Accountable AI” and “Context & Critique Rule” are unregistered trademarks (™).