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stevie_d_64 wrote:What is the literacy rate in this decade???

I bet we would all be shocked...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co ... eracy_rate" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We are pretty high up there

But as for READING Level, whew grabs your socks so they wont be blown off
http://www.informatics-review.com/FAQ/reading.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
*Just a few*
41.6% of American patients could not comprehend directions for taking medication on an empty stomach

26% were unable to understand information regarding when their next appointment was scheduled
*God tell me about that, I make appts all the time at my job, its like pulling teeth. "We will see you Monday the 20th at 1:30" "The 20th is that a Thursday?"
50.5% could not understand a standard informed consent form

I've read that the average American Reading level is that of 8th grade. This makes me sad, but I'm not surprised. Average age in UK is supposed to be 9th.

I would assume countries with multiple languages taught in public schools would have higher levels but I cant find anything, but then again most of the European countries that teach multiple languages have the highest reading levels.

I myself struggled with reading when I was younger, thank god for comics, I went from having a very low reading level in 2nd grade to having a 10th-11th grade level by 5th grade.

I dont know if what you are reading is, well, true.
Illiteracy was common in the South among Blacks and Poor whites. Also does that include Women? I can find you many civil war letters written by someone else FOR someone else. Also if you look at illiteracy rates in say France
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Illiteracy_france.png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Are you saying that the French were THAT much more Illiterate than America?
Not to mention that the Rate did increase because of the influx of immigrants in the US.

Also in some countries/states/ Literacy was considered being able to sign your own name, at other times it was being able to Read and Write Latin, or repeating a Bible Passage (A case in Wales was they used the same passage for everyone, so people would just memorize that one)
Also being able to Read didnt mean you knew how to write!
So there were people who could read the bible and recite it to you, but couldnt write sentence to save their lives.

Now yes, those who were educated were VERY Educated by our standards (Did no one watch Deadwood?) but there were still many people who were not that lucky.
Unfortunately mass public education is going to bring some people down but it brings alot more people up.
It's shocking to find out how many people NEVER READ A BOOK, at all. Even if you are reading a Mindless Brad Thor Novel, or Stephen King cheese fest, you are bettering yourself, then again the Sarah Palin book was a best seller!