humanities.lit.authors.shakespeare

"John Cartmell" wrote in message
news:4f7f7741c0john@cartmell.demon.co.uk...
> In article <25_Bj.24815$j7.452950@news.indigo.ie>, Paul Crowley
> wrote:
>> "John Cartmell" wrote in message
>> news:4f7f1304f4john@cartmell.demon.co.uk...
>
>> >> > Except that Shakespeare had free access to grammar school education
>> >
>> >> A one-teacher-in-one-room school in a remote provincial town where
>> >
>> > literacy was probably greater than 60% and
>
>> It did not reach that in Stratford until the late 19th century. It was
>> nowhere near that in London, let alone in country areas.
>
> 60% was the average in mid Tudor times. Places like Stratford were
> probably
> well above that average.

In Cromwell's New Model Army the literacy rate was about 70%.

That army was overwhelmingly urban and from the lower classes.

There is little doubt that this was seen as a problem at the time of the
restoration and that the urban 'parish school' system was systematically
destroyed to drive the urban lower class back into illiteracy.

--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.