Keith,
I'm not really sure what these numbers tell us. I found very similar results in some research I worked on almost thirty years ago in two Canadian Provinces and my understanding is that things have changed appreciably since then (either in Canada or in other developed/mass education countries). The conclusions/proposals/programs that are drawn from these figures are all over the map--from Basic Skills revivals to Freirian community education initiatives. I don't have a strong sense that there is any consensus on an appropriate remedial response but I don't recall anyone (except the ideologically hypnotized) having argued that the public education system should be thrown out as a consequence of having succeeded with only 75% of the population. Mike Gurstein -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Keith Hudson Sent: January 2, 2002 7:26 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: 33% off??? A recent official national survey announced today reports that one in four adults in England cannot calculate simple financial transactions -- such as working out the change required from buying a typical article in a shop when tendering a banknote or a large denomination coin. In one question, one in four couldn't calculate, however approximately, what "33% off" meant when shopping. One in five cannot find the plumber in the Yellow Pages. We have now had 130 years of enforced State education in England. Keith Hudson (a follower of what Charles Pierce called the Belief built on Tenacity) __________________________________________________________ Writers used to write because they had something to say; now they write in order to discover if they have something to say. John D. Barrow _________________________________________________ Keith Hudson, Bath, England; e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________
