ILLITERACY IN ENGLAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2742, 8 February 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

ILLITERACY IN ENGLAND.

One good is likely to result from tho visit of Emperor William to England recently. Among the many questions he asked was one as to the percentage of illiterate persons in England. An approximate estimate being given him he bluntly expressed his surprise at the existence of such a condition of popular ignorance in a country so wealthy and so high in the scalo of civilination. His comments were reported to the Queen, who lost no time in laying the matter before her advisers. The persietent agitators who have for so many years kept tho question of freo schools bofore tho public, in spite of their discouraging experiences, feel at last that there is a prospect of seeing their labours crowned with success, but they complain bitterly of tho indifference of most people of high positions, and the open hostility of others who do not hesitate to proclaim education the parent of socialism and anarchy, and frankly say that the common people know too much already. It must be said to the crodit of the House of Lords that very few of them entertain this eentiment, the ultra conservative oloment, who associate dynamite with spelling books, finding their firmest supporters among country Sqeireaaud rural members of the House of Commons.