Improving the teaching of reading in primary schools and raising behaviour standards would help improve the situation, he said.

BBC: GCSE results: Gender gap widens in record-breaking year

Working closely with both Republicans and Democrats in the Texas legislature, the governor ensures that every school district in that state concentrates on teaching reading, she said.

CNN: By Karen Spiller/The Telegraph of Nashua

Phonics teaching is an important component of the teaching of reading, but not all words in English are phonically regular (the linguist David Crystal estimates 80% are, but the other 20% contains many of the most common words in English).

BBC: Viewpoints: Teaching children to read

The use of familiar, real-life materials helps students to feel more comfortable in class, and the structured teaching of literacy skills gradually improves their reading and writing skills.

UNESCO: Adult Literacy Tutors Association (ALTA)

But look who it has appointed to carry it out: Jim Rose, former Deputy Chief Inspector of Schools in England - knighted this summer following his 2006 report into the teaching of early reading, with its emphasis on synthetic phonics.

BBC: ANALYSIS

The teaching of literacy primarily focuses on reading, writing, speaking and listening, in order to encourage students to read, comprehend, reflect on their social experiences and use the language as an instrument of knowledge-seeking.

UNESCO: Z�� Pe?o School Project

Lumbly makes you believe that this Johnny Appleseed of reading and writing would return to slavery from a free life up North and risk mutilation in order to continue his teaching.

NEWYORKER: Nightjohn