stewart@ihldt.UUCP (R. J. Stewart) (12/14/84)
>> 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