Examines the role played by national literacy campaigns in larger transformations among societies over the past 400 years. Literacy campaigns have attempted to integrate individuals into more comprehensive political and/or religious communities. Analyzes the historical lessons educators can learn from several such campaigns. (CJH)

Data gathered by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) can be used to analyze the relative effects of educational systems in different countries. A simplified example of such analysis utilizes variations among countries, among age cohorts within countries, and between subject matter competencies within…