Universal Literacy?

In examination of Szwed's text on The Ethnography of Literacy, the notion of the socialism of education comes to mind especially as it pertains to the "social meaning of literacy". The difference between functional literacy and academic literacy and how the two are closely related to financial success and quality of life within the modern class system. Szwed referred to "the negative correlation of skills in literacy with lower socio-economic standing." and also how family and community literacy contribute to the "culture of poverty". Szwed asks perhaps the most poignant question on the matter of the ethnography of literacy when he asks "What is it that people read and write?" I also that in conjunction scholars researching the subject should also ask why? The books most often translated and read have to do with faith, ie the bible, torah, and koran etc. the knowledge of these books in impoverished and underdeveloped communities world wide is an important part of any literacy debate. The concept of those who don't have acess to the type off education that creates complete literacy being "street" or "functionally" literate is an old world ideal. When education was reserved for a privileged few poor people learned scripture, literary classics, fables and wives tales passing them from one generation to the next in a hybrid of oral tradition and the inclusion of certain texts as "functional literature". When it was illegal for a slave to be taught to read there were slaves who knew the bible chapter and verse from memory. Was this an example of literacy? Szwed examines "motivation" for literacy in his text and in understanding culture of poverty I can conclude that survival is one of the strongest motivating factors for literacy but in many instances due to the availability of information and the strain of poverty functional literacy is all that can be obtained. Szwed states that "ethnographic methods ... are the only means for finding out what literacy really is and what can validly be measured." In looking at literacy community by community world wide gives scholars a more sound foundation on universal literature and how it can be achieved, if that's possible