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["Marie McHarry" <mmcharry AT gmail.com>]

 On Sun, Jun 15, 2008 at 6:15 PM, Lynda <lurine AT softcom.net> wrote:
> The truth is that with the public education system we have a less literate
> society than we did prior to the public education system.

I think that's an assertion without evidence. I have read letters that
my ancestors wrote. I gotta say that most of the old folk were pretty
literate. However, the letters from neighbors and employees are barely
decipherable. All the illiterates, save one, that I know personally
were pre1950s models.

I'd like a little more hard evidence that literacy used to be more widespread.

Marie