• FlyingSpaceCow@lemmy.world
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    19 hours ago

    21% of American adults are illiterate (54% read below a 6th grade level)

    17% of Canadian adults are illiterate.

    I keep coming back to these points as it’s important context when understanding the news.

    • Malfeasant@lemm.ee
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      17 hours ago

      That’s… horrifying. I had no idea it was that high. I have to wonder how anyone can be illiterate, after watching my kids learn to read, and how little effort it took (on my part I mean, they were putting effort into it, because they wanted to)

      • FlyingSpaceCow@lemmy.world
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        13 hours ago

        I should point out that a portion of the stat comes from immigrants who are fully literate in their native language.

        National literacy as a topic forms an interesting picture that I don’t fully understand.