MM> VH> But what does that mean?  Many of the people I'm talking about have
MM> VH> been to school.  Yet they cannot read well enough to read a simple
MM> VH> child's book or fill out an application form.

MM>I believe that,  if personal histories can be accurately analysed,
MM>such people never got to experience other people acting on and
MM>enjoying reading.  If your world wasn't literate, learning to be
MM>so is one big challenge.  Hence my...

That's part of what we call the Cycle of Poverty.  In the counties I
speak of, the population is on welfare and they are the fourth or fifth
generation.  Education is not seen as "cool."  Children who try to learn
are discouraged by their peers.

MM> MM>Real adult illiterates are only marginally better
MM> MM>off than true feral humans who escaped the physical
MM> MM>brain changes wrought by being reared in a human,
MM> MM>literate environment.

MM>A teacher who can cut through that handicap is worth the gold they
MM>weigh !

But we don't seem to have such teachers.  In fact, I was told by some
teachers when I was running for Congress in '04 that we have certified
teachers who can't read.  I didn't believe it, but so many told me that
I checked with the Federal agency that "helps" teachers.  Without any
prompting, they told me their number one problem was "teachers who can't
read."

MM> VH> We were quite successful here with computer-aided courses (which my
MM> VH> company produced.)  However, soldiers are above average in
MM> VH> intelligence, and are under miltary discipline.

MM>These ex-railway people tested at around 80-90 IQ points on non-
MM>verbal tests,  and had been working by themselves tending back-
MM>country tracks - redirected to the Army as part of an re-
MM>employment scheme...  very depressing.

Fortunately, we don't use our Army that way.  There was a time, however,
when judges were wont to give young hoodlums a choice between jail and
joining the Army.  I always wanted to meet one of those judges in a back
alley.

MM> MM>Every human baby should have the inalienable right to the sort of
MM> MM>adult company that his society merits most....

MM> VH> And every child should have the right to a first-class education, but
MM> VH> many do not get it.

MM>Amen to that, too.  My contemporaries who got free University
MM>educations moved into politics and made education chargeable,
MM>devising a student loan scheme for those without family gold.

MM>This nation of 4 million now has 9 billion dollars owed it by
MM>struggling graduates and fall-outers - and the debt is
MM>accelorating.

Same here -- student loans are a bad idea.  I'd frankly rather make
college free for those who qualify and keep up their grades.

MM>These politcians and economists ought to be re-drafted into
MM>railway track maintenance....

Do you have any idea of the carnage that would ensue on the railways?
:-)
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