• FlyingSpaceCow@lemmy.world
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      13 days 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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        13 days 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 days 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.

          • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works
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            13 days ago

            Yeah the data is kinda fucky cause of that, this has always been a factor too one of my ancestors spoke decent English but could only read and write in German he was considered technically illiterate.

    • RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world
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      13 days ago

      It looks to me like it’s ordered from more progressive to more fundamental, so literacy should be the last one, really. Trans rights is the newest major one, so it’s the first to fall.