Frank Laubach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Laubach
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | September 2, 1884 |
| Died | June 11, 1970 (aged 85) |
| Occupation | Missionary |
Frank Charles Laubach (born September 2, 1884 – died June 11, 1970) was an American missionary. He was known as "The Apostle to the Illiterates." He worked to help millions of people around the world learn to read. Laubach believed that being able to read was key to peace. He thought that poverty and not being able to read were big problems.
Contents
Helping People Learn to Read
In 1915, Frank Laubach was working in the Philippines. He created a special way to teach people to read. This program was called "Each One Teach One." The idea was simple: someone who learned to read would then teach another person.
This program became very successful. It helped about 60 million people learn to read. They learned in their own languages.
Laubach Literacy's Impact
In 1955, Laubach started an organization called Laubach Literacy. This group helped many Americans learn to read each year. It also grew to help people in 34 developing countries. About 2.7 million people worldwide learned through these programs.
Later, in 2002, Laubach Literacy joined with another group. They formed a new organization called ProLiteracy Worldwide. This group continues to help people learn to read today.
A Global Voice for Literacy
In his later years, Laubach traveled all over the world. He spoke about how important it was for everyone to read. He also talked a lot about world peace. He wrote many books and articles about teaching people to read.
His Spiritual Journey
Frank Laubach also wrote about his spiritual beliefs. One of his most famous writings was a small book. It was called "The Game with Minutes." In this book, he encouraged people to think about God often. He suggested trying to remember God for at least one second of every minute.
This idea came from his own experiences with prayer. He wrote about these experiences in his letters. These letters were later published as a book. It was titled Letters by a Modern Mystic.
Honored for His Work
Frank Laubach is the only American missionary to be honored on a US postage stamp. A 30-cent stamp was made in 1984. It was part of the Great Americans series. This showed how important his work was.
Work in the Philippines
Laubach had a special interest in the Philippines. He wrote a book about a Filipino national hero. The book was called Jose Rizal: Man and Martyr. It was published in Manila in 1936.
He also translated a famous poem by Jose Rizal. The poem was "Mi Ultimo Adios" (My Last Farewell). Laubach's translation is considered one of the best.
Maranao Literature
Laubach also helped to record Maranao literature. The Maranao people live around Lake Lanao in the Philippines. He noted that they had a very rich literature. This literature was mostly passed down by memory. He helped to start writing it down.
Easy English for Learning
Laubach believed in using "Easy English" for teaching. This was a simple form of English. It helped people learn to read faster. His ideas led to the creation of a special paper in 1962. It was called SOON! This paper used his basic vocabulary. It was sent all over the world to help people learn and understand.
