Message-ID: <Pine.SGI.3.95.990119101415.18096B-100000@world.std.com> Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 10:18:23 -0500 From: Renewable News Network <mailto:rnn@RNN.COM> Subject: literacy rates To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
I recall in 1985 reading a column by Ellen Goodman, and questioning her statement of fact that Finland had a 100 percent literacy rate. -RossOn Tue, 19 Jan 1999, Kerry Miller wrote:
> Wilbur
>
> { The statistics for the USA, the country with the highest literacy rate, is
> { 1 out of 5 adults is illiterate. That's 20% right there. The statistics
> { for the entire World that I've heard are 1 out of 3 are literate. I don't
> { know the World's total population off hand, but I thought that there were a
> { lot more than 1.5 Billion people on the planet.
>
> I expect someone from Scandinavia can help us out with more precise
> figures, but I am sure 20% is not the top rate. In any case, it seems
> slightly ironic that its not at all clear whether you're talking about
> plain (2R) literacy, or 'functional literacy.'
> ....
> kerry
>
> P.S. You might take a look at Andrew L Shapiro,
> _We're Number One: Where America Stands -- and Falls -- in the New
> World Order_ (New York: Vintage Books, 1992). I dont think the numbers
> he provides are too far out of date to be enlightening, yet.
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