Reading matters

Research in the United States has found that illiterate adults account for 75% of the unemployed. In another study 85% of juveniles appearing in court were found to be illiterate. A report commissioned by the US Congress concluded that the demands for literacy are rising and that levels which are currently acceptable will be marginal by the year 2000. In short, poor literacy dooms you to life in the underclass.

Do you know how many hours' training on how to teach reading most young British primary school teachers have had? One. Thankfully this has begun to change in the past three …