Trump

[RobYob]

Stripping out (secular) education to the working classes has been a conservative policy since forever.

FTFY Beany, with further speculatory amendment.

[Peterlplp]

Also, LOLing that he wrote a book about why he left the army. I bet his disciplinary record is, err, colourful, and was heading for a dishonourable discharge if he didn’t quit voluntarily. But he’s not bitter. A bitter person wouldn’t write an entire book about how unfair it is.

He definitely has an axe to grind:

[DaveE]

The American Academy - free, state-funded, degree-level education?

That sounds a bit socialist...

[Barry]

Stripping out (secular) education to the working classes has been a conservative policy since forever.

FTFY Beany, with further speculatory amendment.

Did I read this week that 20% of the US is illiterate too? Would explain a lot.

[Sundayjumper]

Did I read this week that 20% of the US is illiterate too?

20% of the US didn't

[GG.]

Stripping out (secular) education to the working classes has been a conservative policy since forever.

FTFY Beany, with further speculatory amendment.

Did I read this week that 20% of the US is illiterate too? Would explain a lot.

Wow - I wasn't expecting that high but UK is 16% so barely much better

[mik]

Stripping out (secular) education to the working classes has been a conservative policy since forever.

FTFY Beany, with further speculatory amendment.

Did I read this week that 20% of the US is illiterate too? Would explain a lot.

I was about to say that can't be true, but click. Shame.

[ZedLeg]

Based on Mik’s link, more than half of adults having the literacy of an 11 year old is worse than the illiteracy number imo.

Like, most of their population can’t understand language at an adult level.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Stripping out (secular) education to the working classes has been a conservative policy since forever.

FTFY Beany, with further speculatory amendment.

Did I read this week that 20% of the US is illiterate too? Would explain a lot.

Wow - I wasn't expecting that high but UK is 16% so barely much better

Where do you get that from?

[GG.]

Did I read this week that 20% of the US is illiterate too? Would explain a lot.

Wow - I wasn't expecting that high but UK is 16% so barely much better

Where do you get that from?

https://literacytrust.org.uk/parents-an ... vels-mean/

16.4% at or below 5 y.o. level.

[Beany]

It's not a controversial position - OECD and UK internal surveys show similar results, I'm sure others do too, they just measure them in slightly different ways but the results are always pretty similar. For example

https://literacytrust.org.uk/parents-an ... vels-mean/

Highlights:

In England, adult literacy is often referred to in terms of ‘levels’ – for example, a 2011 government survey of adult literacy skills found that 14.9% (or 1 in 7) of adults in England have literacy levels at or below Entry Level 3, which is equivalent to the literacy skills expected of a nine to 11-year-old.

More recently, in 2015, the OECD conducted its Survey of Adult Skills, known as PIAAC (Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies). This survey found that 16.4% (or 1 in 6) of adults in England, and 17.4% (or 1 in 5) adults in Northern Ireland, have literacy levels at or below Level 1, which is considered to be 'very poor literacy skills'.

Different sets of levels for each survey; for the devoid of clicking:

Re Govt survey

Entry Level 3 is equivalent to literacy levels at age 9-11. Adults with skills below Entry Level 3 may not be able to understand labels on pre-packaged food or understand household bills.

Re OECD survey

"Below Level 1: Adults can read brief texts on familiar topics and locate a single piece of specific information. Only basic vocabulary knowledge is required and the adult is not required to understand the structure of sentences or paragraphs.

Level 1: Adults can read relatively short digital or print texts to locate a single piece of information that is identical to or synonymous with the information given in the question. Knowledge and skill in recognising basic vocabulary, determining the meaning of sentences, and reading short paragraphs of text is expected.

Edit: Me and GG on the same page there

[Mito Man]

Honestly not surprising when you read the average eBay ad or things written on FB.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Wow - I wasn't expecting that high but UK is 16% so barely much better

Where do you get that from?

https://literacytrust.org.uk/parents-an ... vels-mean/

16.4% at or below 5 y.o. level.

Jeez, that's depressing! Not surprising though sadly.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Honestly not surprising when you read the average eBay ad or things written on FB.

TBH most things are written fairly awfully these days, even amongst so called professionals. And obviously you can't helpfully correct anyone as that makes you a spelling/grammar "nazi".

[V8Granite]

Also most people don’t use it day to day.

Most people I know at work use technical speak, which is very formally written, quite robotic.

It’s just not important for millions of people, why would they need to use it regularly to stop getting rusty and stop regression ?

Dave!

[Barry]

Did I read this week that 20% of the US is illiterate too?

20% of the US didn't

touché

And yeah, I wasn't trying to suggest UK was much better, the standard of even basic communication in this country is dreadful. Not claiming I'm an English Major either, but I try.

[integrale_evo]

I have no idea what level a 5 year old is expected to be at, but I imagine it only requires being able to read or write fairly basic sentences, not a thorough in depth understanding of the English language.

I’m surprised the figure is so low, I’ve worked on the shop floor in a factory with fairly basic entry requirements ( I don’t think there’s a requirement for any GCSEs) but never worked with anyone who couldn’t read and understand instructions or fill in the relevant reporting sections on a computer.

[Sundayjumper]

Not Donald but in the same sphere: The Onion has bought infowars. That's not an Onion headline. It really has.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c30p1p0j0ddo

[RobYob]

Not Donald but in the same sphere: The Onion has bought infowars. That's not an Onion headline. It really has.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c30p1p0j0ddo

Not that that isn't world class hilarious trolling but what the absolute f*ck is this timeline?

[Sundayjumper]

It will be awesome. The Onion have said it’ll make it a parody of itself. All of the links out there that point back to infowars will be pointing to articles slightly amended from their original content and seeing as the conspiracy nut jobs will believe absolutely anything, they’ll go with it. Back it up with a conspiracy theory that it’s not really The Onion and it’s “a team of true patriots” or something.

Also - just seen a great comment - with Donald’s cabinet picks he seems to be testing the “infinite monkeys will produce Shakespeare” theory