Did you know illiteracy rates have gone up in the US over the last 4 years?

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

In 2022 and 2023, it was reported that 54% of Americans read at a 6th grade level, meaning they struggle to spell words like flammable, psychology, institution, etc. As well as 45 million Americans reading at a 5th grade level, making them functionally illiterate. And 21% just can’t read at all. How should this be addressed?

[Gwendoline]

I didn't but I know the local schools are overcrowded. Honestly I think it starts in the home, if your child is failing its up to as parents you to pick up the slack and make sure your child learns. There's a similar problem in UK schools too. That's why I can't understand this big push for woke lessons in schools when most students can't spell lgbtq. I've read some articles where colleges are claiming that maths & English are racist and sexist as is expecting good grades to get into certain college courses.

You see a lot of parents opting for homeschooling as locals schools are such a mess. I was homeschooled because I was in a failing school and it was determined by your postcode. Overcrowded class rooms, low litteracy rates, low maths scores etc. Bullying was rife and teachers didn't care. Gang culture was in the school and a few kids got stabbed outside. Then there was the rape gangs, you had to be careful walking home from school.

Homeschooling was a complete different story. No more 6 hour school days plus travel hour travel. No more hour for lunch, no more hour wasted walking between classes. I was able to do my school learning interruption free, stress free and at my own pace instead of spoon fed at a slower pace. I was finished most of my work before 12 if I started at 9am or I could do it earlier or late depending what was happening maybe go to a museum or ice skating or or the arcades or swimming or the gym or a theme park or church or a cooking class. I actually learned to cook really well at home, sew and knit. I did my GCSEs & A levels at a young age and did very well, worked through the summers and weekends. A few hours per day. Even on a 2 week holiday in Spain I did 3 hours per day school work. Did some college courses at the local college part time.

So in my mind schools and how they are set up are the reason kids are failing in education.

[JSkye]

Is it really that bad? Where? I guess I am lucky to be surrounded by educated people. I suppose how it should be addressed would depend on what (if any) trends exist in the data of the people who can't read? What are the common denominators? That's what should be addressed

[Tarifa]

Years ago, certain European countries introduced digital-only means in the classroom. They have reverted from that. Not everything should be blamed on digital means, obviously, but I think it makes us lazy readers. Things just don't stick as with paper books. There is something non-tangible in digital means that makes us less prone to pay attention to the correct spelling of words. I tend to read quicker, sometimes just scan the text. Not so with books.

Reading is a habit we transmitted from both of us parents to our daughter. There was a habit of reading before bedtime. I much rather pick up a good book than watch a series on tv.

54% of Americans who can only read at a 6th grade level, that's a scary thought.

[WindAtMyBack]

I don't believe those numbers for a minute. I've seen them before, and this is simply a case in how they define things. The literacy rate in the US is WAY higher than that.

[ProbablyClueless]

Doesn't surprise me at all. People are relying too heavily on technology.

[slatyb]

Where's the data? I'm skeptical that it has gone up much. People are about the same as ever.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

The data comes from the National Literacy Institute. You should be able to find it on their website

[slatyb]

I checked the website. Thanks for posting. I believe the data but I'm not seeing a significant decline.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

To be fair, the silent P in psychology is tricky. Unconscious even.

[DryGermanGuy]

Those are shocking numbers. In Germany, illiteracy is below 1%, as far as I know.

[DrPepper12]

I call shenanigans on the 21% that's too much oversampled of the under 5 crowd.

[OddBeMe]

And they think inflammable is the same thing! Oh jeez.

[saraupstairs]

It's all about pronouns.

[Bklynbadboy12]

Let me guess that's the Democrats fault too

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

I don’t think there’s one collective source of blame

[Bklynbadboy12]

Well said