Earlier, we talked about spending that could be considered unnecessary or wasteful, such as developing a Web site for a literacy group.
But I'd like to give you a specific example. In a working class neighbourhood in Eastern Montreal, people who take literacy courses do not only learn by getting to know their multiplication tables and grammar rules; they can also gain practical experience, while at the same time learning to read and write.
A Web or Internet site can be used to develop a newsletter. The trainers are not the ones developing the newsletter. They are students receiving literacy training who develop it and distribute it to other organizations. They are proud to be able to do that. Knowledge acquisition and self-esteem are also important factors to consider. Without self-esteem, one cannot move forward.
So, cutting literacy programs means cutting people's self-esteem.