36% of people in Washington D.C. are functionally illiterate

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I would guess that Washing DC has the highest per capita education expenditures too. Just a guess.

Pretty good guess, I'm afraid.

[Boiler 46,322]

You can graduate High School in Denver without knowing any English....

Unfortunately the system is going down the tube and I have no idea how it can be turned around without a major meltdown first.

no way

There was some bill to try and stop it, but it was turned down as it was unfunded.

Basically it is cheaper to give them degree's and send them on their way, there is not the money to apparently to actually educate them. Or the will more likely.

[almaty 19]

sounds like D.C. is full of dumbazzes....and i am just talking about the politicians

[Robor007 0]

I agree with the basic math statement, too. Basic addition, subtraction and multiplication. A study also showed that most people can not figure out percentage off sales. They have no idea how much something is going to cost after the discount. I saw on your on candid camera once where they had a 110% off sale and people were asking how much it would be in the end, etc. Only one guy out of almost 20 or so was smart enough to get some money and the product!!!

If someone offered me a 110% off sale I'd be looking around for that camera. If it's too good to be true it usually is.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

sounds like D.C. is full of dumbazzes....and i am just talking about the politicians

Yeah, they wouldn't know what to do with a bus schedule.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I would guess that Washing DC has the highest per capita education expenditures too. Just a guess.

Pretty good guess, I'm afraid.

Sorry.. left off the 'ton' in Washington.

[junglee069 0]

was the statistic compiled before or after bush took office?

[Lewis 0]

was the statistic compiled before or after bush took office?

The study was requested in 2003, although the illiteracy problem in D.C is nothing new or unique to this generation. The D.C. public school system has been a mess since the 1970's, some say earlier.

[almaty 19]

was the statistic compiled before or after bush took office?

The study was requested in 2003, although the illiteracy problem in D.C is nothing new or unique to this generation. The D.C. public school system has been a mess since the 1970's, some say earlier.

DC is a mess as a whole and has been for decades....

[mybackpages 0]

I think one of the biggest problems is lack of proper tracking. Everyone wants their kid in the honors class, even if they don't deserve to be there, so they make a big stink until they get their way. I think kids should be tracked from pretty early on. Bright kids aren't progressing up to their potential because too much time is spent focusing on the kids who need more help and a slower pace.

One problem in our local school district is that once you identify a student as honors or G/T they are in teh system. Some kids are tagged early in elementary school but by HS are simply average students. The honors/GT program is also used as a tool to segregate students by economic and racial groups.

Universial education is a good thing, but it carries other consequences that are not easily addressed.

[Lewis 0]

was the statistic compiled before or after bush took office?

The study was requested in 2003, although the illiteracy problem in D.C is nothing new or unique to this generation. The D.C. public school system has been a mess since the 1970's, some say earlier.

DC is a mess as a whole and has been for decades....

So true!

Great subway system, museums, monuments and places to eat though.