Presents a brief biography of Martin Luther, focusing on his work as a reformer of education. Discusses what is known of his childhood, his life in an Augustinian monastery, his posting of the 95 theses against the sale of indulgences and other abuses of the Catholic Church, and his call for universal compulsory schooling. (CT)

To address the confusion and concern surrounding the issue of literacy in the United States, this article outlines the history of literacy development in this country (tracing the growth of literacy, methods of estimating population literacy, and changing definitions of literacy), assesses the present scene, and draws implications for schooling…

From 1910 to 1930, illiteracy rates among Alabama's Black population decreased. Yet it is doubtful that the State's literacy campaign was a major contributor to the decline in Black illiteracy; the campaign was closely tied to the White supremacy movement, and most of the funds were directed toward White education. (GC)

Attacks the whole-word, or "look-say," method of teaching reading, widely used in the United States since 1836. Cites evidence to support this method as the sole reason for the high functional illiteracy rate in the U.S. Recommends the use of intensive phonics as the solution to America's reading problem. (NJ)

Describes the difficulty in reading and writing Persian script which may contribute to illiteracy in Iran and notes the political and religious considerations which make change difficult. (MKM)

The plan adopted in this study has been: (1) to make a correlation between the ranking of the various States in each of the items compared; and (2) to compare the various States with each other directly with a reference to the mean of the entire United States in those items. The Pearson coefficient of correlation points out the approximate degree…

After the statistical report found in Volume II, 1917, Report of the Commissioner of Education, containing statistics for the year 1915-16, had been prepared, the Bureau of Education adopted the plan of collecting statistics biennially instead of annually, as had been done in preceding years. This bulletin contains statistics of Industrial Schools…

This study is the latest addition to a series of bulletins on education in foreign countries published by the U.S. Office of Education. The series is intended to fill multiple and increasing needs, both within and outside the Government; specifically, to provide assistance to registrars and admissions officers in their placement of foreign…

Traces the history of education in Somalia: in precolonial traditional Somalia; during colonial rule by Italy; under civilian rule, 1960-69; and under military rule, 1969-90. Describes the total destruction of the education system since the 1991 collapse of the state, widespread illiteracy and adolescent involvement in thuggery, and the urgent…

In reporting the history and status of the National Adult Education Programme of India (NAEP), a five-year literacy campaign (1979-84) that was designed to educate approximately 100 million persons, this study emphasizes the program's preparatory phase and its monitoring/evaluation systems. After a survey of the literacy needs and past literacy…

Emphasis on adult literacy education in the United States began in the first decade of the twentieth century, which was characterized by heavy immigration from countries whose populations were not uniformly educated. Special attention was paid to adult literacy during times of crisis such as World War I and II when it was learned that many adults…

Examines what happened to a little-known black newspaper, the "Provincial Freeman," which was published between 1853 and 1860 in what is now Canada's Ontario Province. Describes an uphill battle waged by editors and publishers to build a subscription base, solicit donations, recruit advertisers, and receive payment for their product. (TB)

A fervent idealist whose dream was to eliminate illiteracy throughout the world, Frank C. Laubach sought to bring Christianity to the masses by giving them the ability to read and spread the teachings of the Bible. In working with people in the nonindustrialized nations, Laubach also saw the need for economic and political self-sufficiency. He…

Information concerning educational conditions in the southern Appalachian region is scattered, fragmentary, and often partisan to the assumption either that conditions are ideal or that they are inconceivably bad. The purpose of this study is to draw together the available facts in the case. Necessarily, this study is largely statistical. The…

The State is no longer thought to have performed its full duty to itself, to society, or the criminal when, by imprisonment, it has punished the criminal for his offense. When the prisoner is set free he should be a better citizen, a more desirable and efficient member of society, and a more intelligent man, with a larger amount of self-control…