Topic: Literacy

6 memories of growing up as a Romany Gypsy

In 'Gypsy Boy,' writer Mikey Walsh recalls growing up as part of England's Romany Gypsy community.

Cartoons to rebuild lives in Haiti

A cartoon-based newspaper in Haiti focuses on human rights, education and health issues - and has the highest circulation in the country.

Egypt elections: Illiterate voters just one hurdle in path toward democracy (+Video)

In one Nile Delta town participating in Egypt elections today, a judge said he had to help fill in ballots for as many as 90 percent of voters, who couldn't read and write.

One billion holiday wishes

As a new year dawns, 1 billion people worldwide face difficult challenges. But hundreds of organizations are working tirelessly to help.

Pre-K winners for Race to the Top contest: Will they spur broader reform?

Nine states will receive federal Race to the Top money to boost support for pre-K and other early-learning programs, the Obama administration announced Friday.

Leadership: Handpicking a new generation of African role models

The African Leadership Academy looks for specific traits – such as courage – in picking students who may lead the continent someday.

Africa Rising: Continent's income to triple, extreme poverty gone by 2060?

Most African countries 'will attain upper middle income status' by 2060, says a new report to be released tomorrow by the African Development Bank.

Peace Corps teachers return to Sierra Leone

After a 16-year absence Peace Corps teachers like Arteeca Eccles are again helping children learn math, science, and English to in a country where only 35 percent of adults can read and write.

Harry Potter is just like ... what? Five leading templates for comparison.

Harry Potter fans just know they love the record-breaking series of books. But everyone from academics to mythologists, classicists to historians, and literary critics to, well, geeks have a special “template” they perceive at the heart of the tale.

From positing Albus Dumbledore as the infamous Richard III to taking us aloft the scaly back of St. George’s dragon, here are five of our top takes on what’s going on behind the scenes in the Harry Potter narratives.

Betty Ford to Michelle Obama: How seven first ladies have changed the office

Since her husband's presidency, Betty Ford has passed the mantle of first lady to six other women. Here are the contributions each made:

PBS and JetBlue partner up to keep kids reading all summer long

"Soar with Reading" offers in-flight packages to entertain young travelers with reading games.

In Brazil, get out of jail sooner by hitting the books

Brazil has proposed legislation to shorten prison sentences in exchange for taking classes. It could alleviate overcrowding in an overtaxed prison system.

The First Grader: movie review

Based on a true story, 'The First Grader' is an uplifting tale about a Kenyan ex-freedom fighter who finally gets to attend school in his 80s.

Conservative argument is no match for liberal art

Conservatives may be resurgent in Washington, but they have abandoned the arts. Liberal dominance of culture is undermining America's foundational values. When’s the last time Hollywood made a movie that portrayed a corporation in positive terms?

Black History Month: 6 classic novels

Each of these novels – in its own way – is a classic. All six fearlessly explore different dimensions of what it means to be black in America.

Arizona shooting suspect Jared Loughner: 5 of his strange ideas

Jared Lee Loughner is accused of killing six people and wounding 14 in Tucson, Ariz., on Saturday. Here’s a look at five ideas believed to come from Loughner, in his words and those of the people who know him.

Ideas for a better world in 2011

To start the new year off right, the Monitor asked various thinkers around the world for one idea each to make the world a better place in 2011. We talked to poets and political figures, physicists and financiers. The results range from how to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world to ways to revamp Hollywood.

What Muslim nations can learn from the 'infidels' -- how to fight corruption

Forget strict enforcement of sharia law. If Muslim leaders want to gain moral high ground, they have to fight corruption. On Transparency International's corruption index, only four Muslim majority countries ranked in the top 50. It's time to take a cue from the countries who did.

Bestselling books the week of 11/18/10, according to IndieBound*

What's selling best in independent bookstores across America.

Bestselling books the week of 9/23/10, according to IndieBound*

What's selling best in independent bookstores across America.

7 most controversial UN speeches, from Ahmadinejad to Khrushchev

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, slated to speak to the UN General Assembly today, is not the only world leader to have delivered infamous remarks.