The first R: a subject of scandal and concern

Bert Smith was angry when he saw his morning paper. He decided to write to its Editor. The article which aroused him was about reading. The reporter said it was an appalling fact that 80 000 school‐leavers this year would be unable to read without difficulty. Bert saw that the reporter blamed poor teachers and inadequate teaching methods for this disturbing schooling failure. He wrote from his Blackpool home: ‘I prefer to think these children just haven't got it in them’.