General Discussion

defacto7

(13,639 posts)

54. From my own study of private letters and hand written documents

Sun Nov 10, 2024, 09:46 AM

Nov 10

from previous centuries I had the opportunity to browse in the Yale archives years ago, I am convinced that collectively, humans have devolved mentally for whatever reason since the mid 19th century. I wrote a long post on this a long time ago, but I'll not dredge that up here.

I agree with you.

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(54%) of Americans between the ages of 16 and 74 read below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level [View all] Ponietz Nov 9 OP

I am reminded of that every day when interacting with my fellow citizens.nt. drray23 Nov 9 #1

They tell you everything you need to know Turbineguy Nov 9 #2

Illustrates the dismal state of our educational system. MichMan Nov 9 #3

Amen! My wife taught public school for 21 years before moving to private for the last six... Mark.b2 Nov 9 #6

"Social Promotion.". We cater to their self-esteem. We indulge. lindysalsagal Nov 10 #11

Ah! That's the term my wife told me about. Mark.b2 Nov 10 #15

But then the parents want to whine when the teacher gives the student a bad grade Dem4life1234 Nov 10 #26

A lot of parents don't teach their kids to respect teachers' authority.... Mark.b2 Nov 10 #47

I did 7 years public school (rural Alabama and inner city Atlanta.) bamagal62 Nov 10 #48

I doubt it was ever any better. Elessar Zappa Nov 10 #57

And yet, I was reading at 8th/9th grade level in second grade, not even niyad Nov 9 #4

Snopes isn't reliable anymore but I definitely believe this is true. live love laugh Nov 9 #5

Wut? MrWowWow Nov 10 #7

Good grief! And we know of at least one who is in Congress. LoisB Nov 10 #8

Another in the Senate misanthrope Nov 10 #22

True, true. The Senator from Alabama who allegedly actually lives in Florida. His intellect is limited to LoisB Nov 10 #23

I've alway thought: how terrible scary it must be to not marybourg Nov 10 #9

A coworker once took me aside to ask a question. yardwork Nov 10 #44

Most people voting on bond issues don't even know what a bond issue is Ponietz Nov 10 #49

So, how do we improve it? I get GOPers obstruct, so what can we do? Most people I see seem relatively Silent Type Nov 10 #10

My impression is most know their job and their hobby TheKentuckian Nov 10 #61

In 5th grade I was reading at a senior in high school/college freshman level. BannonsLiver Nov 10 #12

My parents were told when I was in 5th grade... love_katz Nov 10 #21

Me too. I remember reading Jane Eyre and some of Dostoyevsky's novels. travelingthrulife Nov 10 #55

That's all you need for comic books lame54 Nov 10 #13

Or Hustler. rubbersole Nov 10 #20

There is nothing wrong with comics exboyfil Nov 10 #31

Agreed. My parents - to the horror of neighbors - let me read comics. yardwork Nov 10 #45

Goebbels had a Phd Kaleva Nov 10 #14

And lack of education is no guarantee of rectitude. dchill Nov 10 #30

More like point missed GenThePerservering Nov 10 #40

Yes Kaleva Nov 10 #41

Yes, but lack of education .. Dave says Nov 10 #60

The literacy rate is based on a test administered to adults between 16 to 74 in 2003. summer_in_TX Nov 10 #16

To be fair, we do rank 125th globally for literacy, so there's that. Abolishinist Nov 10 #17

And likely cannot even Figarosmom Nov 10 #18

And Dotard speaks at a 4th grade level.... AZ8theist Nov 10 #19

From my own study of private letters and hand written documents defacto7 Nov 10 #54

And yet they're banning books?! When I was a kid, reading was actively encouraged! Rhiannon12866 Nov 10 #24

This has been the republican bamagal62 Nov 10 #25

"Idiocracy" was a documentary. dchill Nov 10 #29

No, it is a Pollyannaish fairytale at this point. TheKentuckian Nov 10 #33

I blame the Kardashians - now it's cool to be stupid. groundloop Nov 10 #27

Incredible, yet also seemingly completely obvious. dchill Nov 10 #28

Explains the election Old Crank Nov 10 #32

For a certain group of people... Mike Nelson Nov 10 #34

my kids learned to read when they were 3. they then spent almost 2 years reading everything Native Nov 10 #35

I would say I am shocked, but even the far more educated are having "issues." Many cannot spell, have atrocious hlthe2b Nov 10 #36

We are talking about a reading level for 11 and 12 year old children. madaboutharry Nov 10 #37

This quote left out "cretin" GreenWave Nov 10 #38

Damn! Ysabel Nov 10 #39

Including the guy who just got reelected, tanyev Nov 10 #42

America is banner headline readers Norbert Nov 10 #43

Partially explains the serious lack La Coliniere Nov 10 #46

Partially - maybe? MerrilyMerrily Nov 10 #50

Thanks Ronnie, own it Rs! Clouds Passing Nov 10 #51

That should come as no surprise to anyone who reads at an adult level. MineralMan Nov 10 #52

This explains why a large amount of Americans are stupid. Emile Nov 10 #53

I have long believed... The Madcap Nov 10 #56

This does say something. republianmushroom Nov 10 #58

My 16 year old son told me something I didn't know Bettie Nov 10 #59