The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-04-07
HOW TO PREVENT lLLlTERAcY.
Charlotte observer

~
revival There is an awakening on the
part of the people to the need of a bet
ter school system. This educational i1n-
petus has been marked by the increased
discussion of school matters, i'll private
talk and in the public prints. It had its
impress on the last Legislature, and that
body passed laws that viii materially aid
The progress of education i'll the State
notably the law allowing any township
as much as $500 from special State ap-'
preparation of $50, 900, provided the
township will raise $500 more by local
taxation Many of the educators and
thinkers of the State have been aroused
to active work for the better1nent of tie
States school system and for the pre-
vefltion Of illiteracy il, otsr midst, and Of
IL those who have written upon the sub
jet no one has SO impressed us as Capt.
S. A. Ashe, of Raleigh, i'll his advocacy
o. constitutional amendment making
ability to read and write a requisite for
suffrage in the State. Capt. Asile. ad-
vocated such all amendment III letter III
the News and Observer Of February
! 18th
He first disposed of the prevalent
opinion that North Carolina is Rip Van
| Wrinkle State. BY tie end of the de
caGe from 1910 to 1850 North Carolina
was i'll tile procession of States which
were establishing public school systems.
Our relative backwardness, Capt. Ashe
shows, is not due to oar slow start. We
must look for some other cause for our
"abon1i,1ab1e i1literacy."
We do not find that cause in the pub
lie schools themselves, as short of tenn
and as lacking i'll facilities as they are
Although not even averaging four
months year, they at least afford an
opportunity for every child to learn how
to read and write'' What then is the
cause of illiteracy il our midst? We
quote from Capt. Asile:
We must look for the cause of Our de-
plorable il1iteracy elsewhere than i'll the
schools. We can find it only in the
homes of the i1literates themselves. If
l lay bare an ugly spot, it is because l
love North Carolina and admire our peo-
pie, and 1 desire to see tie evil cured
and the blot OH the good name of the
State removed.
The children remain illiterate because
there is no influence in their homes to
make them attend school and learn II
for the future of the children; no hope
Of improving their condition i'll life; nc
incentive to equip them for rising to a
higher level. Anybody who knows our
people knows these facts It is 11liser-
able condition III many homes. How
can this be changed? That is the cues
ton. By agitation and discussion:
These illiterates cannot be reached BY
such means. We must apply an incen-
tive. We cannot do it BY appeals. We
must find all incentive outside Of theil
home life. Let ME illustrate:
After the war number of Americans
went to Egypt and took service with the
Khedive. Now will let Rev. DIR. Pot
ter tell the story, as it is found in his
pleasant book. The Khedive asked ORG
of those gentlemen what impressed hin
as the most conspicuous defect i'll hi:
army.
Said my country1nan in reply: cha
it is governed by civilians" and then h
went OH to explain that the officers O
the army were generally unable to reat
aid write, and were dependent OH tlei
clerks, who, although they were civil
ians, thus acquired and exercised uildu,
influence.
The very next day all order was issue,
making the ability to read and write a,
absolute condition of promotion, and in
little while this was followed by an Or
der making all Burroughs aId specia
privileges dependent OH the same con
dition. AS a consequence in G few week
: the entire army was turned into a school
and in year from the date of tits cor
! | W. o.iIioii llSiS NSlS OAtStl1 10 1ICll II
the whole Egyptian army who could 10
read and write. Here was an incentive
) Il answered the purpose
e Can we find similar incentive to cur
= illiteracy in North Carolina? 1 think W
can. I am prompted to suggest it by tn
! hope that by this means we may url;.
those who are at the lowest level anon
our people; that we may widen their pos
q, sibilities i'll life; multiply their chance
of prosperity and increase their happ
O ness. How many dark homes are tier
in our dear old North State that need Il,
= light OF education to enter and illurnii,
i the be1ighted minds ard es1eer tie hope
;. less hearts of the entire family?
o Suppose there should be constitl
d tional amendment that no person col;
}, ing OF age after January I, 1901, shall /
allowed to vote unless he can read all
= write; would not that supply the incel
II tive? Would any boy corue of age afte
). that date without knowing how to res
Il and write? 1 think not There won,
% be all end of illiteracy among the lie
growth; for if the boys went to schoo
, the girls would, too,
Such provision would deprive no 111a
u of his right of suffrage; for the illiterat
Ut of the present day would not be affecte
II by it, and the boys coming of age her
"a after would qualify themselves in fl
= time; and if by chance any had II
" l>arnt while under age, with this slim
II lus to stir him, he would learn -befo
" election time.
I There is no partisansllip in this SUI
r gestion. 1t rises high above all parts.
considerations i'll its promise for good
the abjcct and unlettered portion of o
population.
u All parties should unite
III supporting such a measure, the purpo