Wicked Problem Research Paper

Words: 647
Pages: 3

A Wicked Problem Early on in the semester of our course, we came across the term ‘wicked problem.’ A wicked problem is a social or cultural problem that is extremely difficult (or even impossible) to solve because it is highly interconnected and dependent on other problems or conditions. When looking at the literacy crisis, it’s clear that it is a great example of a wicked problem because the crisis is not only affecting multiple generations but the economy as a whole, which is why it would take both state and federal action as well as networks involving all sectors to be able to come to a solution. In the United States, 54% of American adults read below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level, and nearly one in five adults read below a third-grade level. Lower literacy rates directly correlate to higher …show more content…
Adults with low literacy are more likely to be dependent on public assistance programs and experience higher rates of hospitalization and more frequent use of emergency room facilities - they are five times more likely to report being in poor health than other adults. If all adults in America could read at or above a sixth-grade level, the U.S. economy would generate an additional $2.2 trillion per year. Low literacy is both a cause and effect of the cycle of persistent poverty and racial inequity in the U.S. (Barbara Bush Foundation, 2021). There are challenges to improving both childhood and adult literacy skills, it is important to note that it is not an either-or solution, and both k-12 and adult literacy programs need attention and funding. Another large factor that isn’t normally talked about that affects the literacy rates in children is a child's background or family life that is attributed to their