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From: stewart@ihldt.UUCP (R. J. Stewart)
Newsgroups: net.kids,net.politics
Subject: Re: School taxes -- [Compulsory education and illiteracy]
Message-ID: <2651@ihldt.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Dec-84 11:02:08 EST
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Posted: Fri Dec 14 11:02:08 1984
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>> I don't think that the merits of universal literacy need to
>> be brought up -- an end to compulsory education would mean a return
>> to the dark ages

> A number of educators (John Holt and Raymond Moore among others) 
> have pointed out that literacy in this country has actually declined
> since the advent of "compulsory education/attendance". ... John Adams
> said in 1765 that "a native of America, especially of New England, who
> cannot read and write is as rare a Phenomenon as a Comet."

Some figures on this, from an article in the 12-13-84 edition of the
Chicago Tribune:

- an estimated 67 million adults in the US are functionally illiterate.
  [i.e. cannot read and write well enough to get through everyday life.
  This means they cannot read a newspaper or the signs identifying the
  express checkout at the grocery store.]

- The ranks of the illiterate are growing at about 2.25 million
  annually.

- They referred to a report published recently in U.S. News and World
  Report estimating that by the year 2000, 2 out of every 3 Americans
  will be functionally illiterate.  [!!]

Make of these what you will.

Bob Stewart
ihldt!stewart