• nicolairathjen@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    How is literacy defined here? If it’s English proficiency, it might explain “illiteracy” in southern states.

    • PapaStevesy
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      1 year ago

      Minnesota has a huge immigrant population and still has the second-highest rate on the map, so maybe not.

      • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        They’re Hmong immigrants though, who are eager to assimilate into American culture, and are mostly 1st and 2nd generation Americans now.

        • MNByChoice
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          1 year ago

          In 2020, about 8% of Minnesotans were foreign-born

          Page includes a chart: IMMIGRANT GROUPSORT DESCENDING POPULATION
          All immigrants 470,387
          Burmese immigrants 12,480
          Canadian immigrants 11,179
          Chinese immigrants 17,746
          Ecuadorian immigrants 6,703
          Ethiopian immigrants 22,453
          Filipino immigrants 9,936
          German immigrants 6,811
          Guatemalan immigrants 6,619
          Hmong immigrants 29,034

          I did not include the whole chart.

          I am only pushing back on the implication about the immigrants in Minnesota being only Hmong. I have no idea about literacy in any of those countries.

          • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Oh wow, I didn’t realize there are so many other groups. I wonder why some of them choose Minnesota of all places. I know why the Hmong are there, but Minnesota seems like an odd match for some of those other groups. At least it’s a new life experience and a change of scenery!

  • shalafi@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Now cross it up with an immigration map.

    We slamming Florida here? Then why is the liberal bastion of California even worse off? LOL, bet NYC counts for the vast majority of illiterates in New York.

    C’mon y’all. This is interesting data, but it says nothing about state politics. A conservative could use this as an anti-immigration ad. (Please don’t give 'em ideas.)

    • Jimmyeatsausage@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It does seem like there’s a correlation with high density cities…maybe larger elementary class sizes lead to lower literacy? Or maybe more folks “slip through the cracks” in large cities (dropping out, etc). I hope some smart people are parsing this data, and we’ll eventually be able to get some good policy outcomes from it…green up those areas a bit.

  • mriguy@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Is literacy defined as “ability to read” or “ability to read English”? If you can read Spanish but not English, you aren’t illiterate.

  • The Assman@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    TIL Indiana is one of the most literate states!? I mean there’s only 29 of us living here, but I’m still impressed.

  • agent_flounder@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    TX and FL? Not surprised. But what’s up with NY and CA? Also is literacy improved when winter keeps people stuck inside or something? (/Jk)