How Children Learn to Read, a Lesson from the 17th Century

Thomas Tryon advises how to teach children to read and write in England in the late 17th Century:

"At a year and a half, or two years old show them their letters, not troubling them in the vulgar way, with asking them what is this letter, or that word, but instead thereof, make frequent repetitions in their hearing, putting the letters in their sight. And thus in a little time, they will easily and familiarly learn to distinguish the twenty-four letters, all as they learn the utensils, goods, and furniture of the house, by hearing the family name them. At the same time, teach your children to hold the pen, and guide theirs hand; and by this method, your children, unaccountably to themselves, will attain to read and write at three, four and five years old....."

In America

1790 literacy rate was 90% (women's was 45%)
1840 rate - between 93 -100%
1940 rate - 96% for Whites - 80% for Blacks
1951 rate - 81%
1973 rate - 73%

I am having trouble finding the most recent literacy rates. I'll post when I find.