The school teacher who couldn’t read
John Corcoran never learned to read or write. He managed to keep his secret for more than 40 years, even when he was a high school teacher.
John Corcoran grew up in the US during the 1940s and 50s. As a kid, John was really looking forward to going to school like his older siblings. But once he got there, he realised he had a problem: he couldn’t learn to read or write. John felt demoralised and degraded, but he kept his secret for more than 40 years. During that time he managed to finish school, graduate and he even became a high school teacher. How did he do it?
This episode was first broadcast on 14 April, 2018.
Producer: Alice Gioia
Presenter: Maryam Maruf
(Image: Books with letters flying off the page. Credit: efks/Getty Images)
Last on
Broadcasts
- Sat 4 Apr 202021:32GMTBBC World Service except Americas and the Caribbean
- Sun 5 Apr 202008:32GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Sun 5 Apr 202009:32GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Mon 6 Apr 202000:32GMTBBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean
Contact Outlook
Info on how we might use your contribution on air
Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary
Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected
