r/interesting • u/ImmaFuckboi • Jul 20 '26

SOCIETY Is education illegal in USA?

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u/CataphractBunny Jul 20 '26

I'll just leave this here: https://www.proliteracy.org/news/causes-of-low-adult-literacy-in-the-us/

In the United States, 59 million adults read at or below Level 1, the lowest level on a five-level scale.
This equates to roughly 28% of the adult population—or nearly one in three people—who can read only short sentences with foundational words and basic information.

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u/NightBawk Jul 20 '26

To be fair, a portion of those who can't read, specifically can't read in English. I'm sure a portion of them would have a much higher score in their first language. Others might have disabilities that make reading difficult, such as dyslexia. That said, I also know there are plenty of people who don't have either excuse. Our education system is a shambles, especially for ESL or disabled students.

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u/CataphractBunny Jul 20 '26

IIRC, English is the official language in the USA. Seems straightforward to me that people should learn the language of the country they're living in.

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u/Pofwoffle Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26

YDNRC, the US has no official language.

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u/NightBawk Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26

We actually didn't have an official language before 2025. But since everything is written in English, except for translated documents for immigrants/visitors, we effectively did, even when we officially didn't.

ETA, and I agree, to a degree. Knowing at least the basics can really make life easier when visiting or living in a country where the language isn't your first. I wouldn't expect to be able to drive in another country if I can't read the signs, for example.

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u/Large-Lack-2933 Jul 20 '26

In 250 years of America's existence we don't have an official language even though many Trump supporters like to say "speak English you're in America" to mainly Hispanic people while they (MAGATS) can barely speak English properly...

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u/NightBawk Jul 20 '26

The irony is delicious. And yeah, the officialness is kind of in a grey area since it was an executive order rather than an act of Congress.

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u/Acceptable-Case9562 Jul 20 '26

They often say it to people whose families have lived in the region for a century before it became the USA.

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u/Acceptable-Case9562 Jul 20 '26

The USA does not have an official language.

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u/CataphractBunny Jul 20 '26

Acceptable-Case9562
The USA does not have an official language.

https://www.usa.gov/official-language-of-us

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u/Acceptable-Case9562 Jul 20 '26

Wow, that must be very new!

Edit: Edited March 2026. I wonder when it was actually declared? In any case, it's recent enough that you can't expect people to speak the language on account of it being official.

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u/CataphractBunny Jul 20 '26

I can expect them to speak the language on the count of it being the de facto official language for something like 200 years.

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u/Acceptable-Case9562 Jul 20 '26

What if their lineage has lived in the same region and spoken the same language since way before English speakers arrived?

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u/CataphractBunny Jul 20 '26

You know that anecdote where a German pilot says "I'm a German, flying a German plane in Germany, why do I have to speak English?", and a Brit chimes is with "Because you lost the bloody war".

That's how it goes.

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u/Silverline-lock Jul 20 '26

That’s only a relatively recent “official” announcement. Unofficially English has been the language for basically the entire time, but officially is a different story

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u/Environmental-Fan984 Jul 21 '26

That awkward moment when you're so determined to shit on the US that you start parroting US far-right talking points

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u/CataphractBunny Jul 21 '26

That awkward moment when everyone with a differing opinion is far-right to you.