LONDON: (U.N. Report) - The United Nations' children's agency says millions of children are growing up unequipped to build decent lives because they can't read, write or even count. In developing countries, forty percent of elementary school-age children never enter school, or drop out before they receive even a basic education. In many industrialized countries (including Canada and the U.S.), 15-20 percent of children leave school without the skills necessary to find or keep a job.

The U.N. report says nearly one-sixth of humanity...almost one-billion people will enter the 21st century (year 2001) unable to read a book, or even sign their names, much less operate a computer or understand a simple application form.

If, as so many of our leaders like to say, children are the future of our world, then our world is in serious trouble. "In ancient Israel God admonished His people to "Teach children the ways of the Lord" (Exodus 12:26). Solomon wrote: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right" (Proverbs 22:11). "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him" (Proverbs 22:15). Through the prophet Isaiah, God also delivers a dire warning: "As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths" (Isaiah 3:12) .

Here's one of the many examples of the latter portion of that statement "they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths."