Evaluates the efforts to achieve a common or single definition of adult literacy in the United States. The article describes the current understandings of literacy as reported in the professional literature, focuses on the feasibility of establishing a common definition of adult literacy in America, and explores the normative aspects of the issue.…

Discusses the problem of illiteracy and offers the philosophy for children program as an antidote. This program encourages and assists children in paying attention to their own and others' ideas. It is a thinking skills program that has demonstrated its ability to improve children's basic skills. (JOW)

This study of one part of the cognitive system of an illiterate Indian (his method of enumeration, computation, and evaluation) demonstrates the sophisticated conceptualization of which he is capable, independent of a writing system. (Author/CMG)

The main purpose of this paper is to describe the answers given by adults without primary schooling to different ratio-and rate-comparison tasks. The framework and the analysed data are part of an ongoing research, in which the responses of subjects of different ages and schoolings are studied. The behaviour of quasi-illiterate adults could throw…

Article describes the mostly unsuccessful results of a literacy class begun in a rural village in India. (MM)

Provides a summary of the problems Ethiopia faces in its efforts to combat widespread illiteracy and supplies some possible solutions and recommendations. (AN)

Here are excerpts from the Fifth A. D. Shroff Memorial Lecture delivered by Dr. Deshmukh under the auspices of the Forum of Free Enterprise on October 27, 1970. (Editor)

23 million Americans lack the reading and writing skills needed to handle the minimal demands of daily life. The widespread problem of functional illiteracy pervades every segment of society and could erode the ability of the nation to keep up with other technologically advanced countries. (SK)

Examines cliches, vogue words, redundancies, ungrammatical constructions and lapses in style occurring in various Canadian newspapers. (HTH)

One adult's description of what it is like to be illiterate and then learn to read. (DD)

Considers that the written form of English is at variance with a majority of other alphabetic scripts and is increasingly being seen as a contributing factor to illiteracy in the English-speaking world. Confirms results from earlier studies and clearly links word characteristics to literacy failure. Relates implications from this and previous…

Presents public policy issues that affect literacy among women. Discusses the economic jeopardy cycle of illiteracy, increased labor force participation of women, and family needs as factors which compel advocacy for programs aimed at increasing female literacy levels. Examines the illiteracy rate among women and its effect on employment. Includes…

Jobs in the future will demand a more skilled and literate work force than we have. One solution to the basic skills problem lies in job-related, accomplishment-focused programs that benefit the organization and the employee. (JOW)