1 In 20 Can't Read English

"An estimated in one in 20 U.S. adults is not literate in English, which means 11 million people lack the skills to perform everyday tasks, a federal study shows."

"From 1992 to 2003, the nation's adults made no progress in their ability to read a newspaper, a book or any other prose arranged in sentences and paragraphs. They also showed no improvement in comprehending documents such as bus schedules and prescription labels."

This is pitiful, and there's no excuse for it. While I'm always skeptical of implied poll and survey statistics, in this case 19,000 are supposed to represent almost 300 million, I am aware of a large number of my fellow citizens who have somehow managed to avoid learning the most basic of reading skills. I'm also aware that many of them did attend school, some even graduated high school, yet remain illiterate. If they have some degree of mental impairment, then it's understandable, otherwise, inexcusable.

Like most elements of basic education, learning to read doesn't require any money, a school, or even a paid teacher. All that's needed is an old newspaper or book, and someone to spend a little time with occasionally. It would be bad enough if they'd never been to school, and grew up around no one else who could read, like in many other parts of the world. But this is in America, and this study shows even a graduate degree doesn't guarantee literacy.