To succeed in today's world, literacy is vital. But what is the definition of literacy? According to Merriam Webster, it is "the quality or state of being literate", but can also be expanded and redefined as being culturally literate" the ability to understand and appreciate similarities and differences in the customs, values ​​and beliefs of one's own culture. the cultures of others? This essay will use the writings of Fishman, Mary Ann Zehr, and Jean Piaget to compare mainstream society's definition of literacy to that of Amish culture. Literacy according to the norms of the dominant society includes the freedom to choose what to read and write, and the use of critical thinking to evaluate what has been read. But it can also be defined, as in Amish culture, as being culturally literate according to the standards of your own culture. Generally, to be considered literate, one must possess the ability to read, write, and understand what has been read. But what if, within your culture, the ability to read, write, and understand extended only to the ability to read a recipe, or to read the correspondence of distant family members, or to be able to understand the latest farming tips from The Dairy? For the Amish, reading and writing are only a small part of the definition of literacy; they are nowhere near as important as the ability to plant crops and care for animals, or prepare a meal for a large family. To be literate in Amish culture, one must be literate enough to read hymns during church services, to correspond by writing traditional Amish letters, and to read the Bible (Fishman). But, being literate in Amish culture also means that as an Amish man, he would also need to know when to plant his crops, what to plan... middle of paper ...... believe that c t's a success, they trade within our community, they learn just enough to coexist on the fringes of our society, but generally don't seek to become the next CEO of General Motors. In comparison, how hard would the typical man or woman with an MBA attempt to exist within Amish culture? Literacy is essential to success, but it is cultural literacy, according to the standards of your own culture, that is by far the determining factor in these successes. 2. -- Amish Literacy: What it Means and How by Andrea Fishman September 19893. Zehr, Mary Ann. Amish teaching is diverse, the author discovers. Education Week 26.14 (2006): 11.Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Internet. September 30, 2010.4. Piaget, Jean The origins of intelligence in children