Literacy Rate – Lowndes County, Mississippi

I found some online statistics about literacy in Lowndes County, MS.

In 1992 the percentage of the population lacking “basic prose literary skills” was estimated at 21%. In 2003 that number had improved to 16%. I don’t know if it is fair to extrapolate another 10 years, but if it were, 2013 would be at 11%.

Do you think 11% of the population in our area should be kept away from The Tale of Two Cities because they cannot read?

(And the situation in the next county south of us is: 2003 – 28% lacking “basic prose literary skills”)

I think classic literature has timeless value. Sure, a lot of more modern works also are valuable and I would broadcast those if I had the ability to do so. But the old stuff is good and it is freely available.

The leap to be made is whether hearing The Tale of Two Cities on the radio would actually improve the literacy situation. Isn’t that an interesting question? I think we should try it and find out.

The only way to make that happen is that either a) it has to have commercial viability for some station to switch from the current radio fare or b) someone like you will offer to help set up, fund and run a non-profit to do it.

Here is an opportunity, for the price of a used car we can try it out and see what happens. I hope you will join us.