Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-28


it will be possible, because of the additional authority
granted to him. to obtain the cooperation of the States
counties districts, and municipalities and of churches,
Sunday schools, womens clubs, and other organiza-
tons interested in the public welfare, to such extent
that within the next ten years the percentage of IL
lteracy in this country may be reduced to fraction of
one per cent hope the bill will become law in the
present session of Congress- may have plans ready
for beginning this work next fall Indeed, it not
much to believe that with prompt action the result
expected by the Commissioner may be secured by the
time the national census of 1920 is taken.
Experimental work already done along this line shows
that rapid progress is possible Rowan County, Ken
lucky, and Worth County, Georgia, have specialized,
with great success in teaching mixed classes of adults
and children in the rural districts Buffalo, through the
North American Civic League for Immigrants, has
dertaken not only the education of immigrants but
also classes in citizenship instruction. By providing
requisite appropriations, this is the first city in the
country to take forward step in minimizing foreign
born iliteracy by placing citizenship education
clearly recognized and distinct basis.
THE Old Field School of Worth County has pic
turesque history. 1t is, in reality, a homeless
school, where Websters blue back speer the principal
textbook and where and age lose their perspective
they fuse into the desire and thirst for knowledge.
Higher education there is unknown quantity, be-
cause where an individual of sixtyseven busy mas
tering the ntricacies of A-B-C side by side with
child of ten higher education loses its importance in
favor OF elemental eQuCdC1On Inc ScnOOI term IS IN
definite: it uctuates with the crops. 1t begins
the cotton is laid by and the attended to- and it
ends when the students must return to the fields to
harvest the crops. Between roastin ear and hard
corn is the way these people of the wire grass country
would describe it.
Its founder is Frank Park, now member of Congress
from Georgia. In 1906 when he began the classes,
he Judge of the Superior Court of the State Ac
tuated by the realization that most of the individuals
who came before him jurors, witnesses COMPLIMENTS
and defendants were mature and aged men who could
neither read WRITE he decided to provide the
for giving them limited education. Out of his salary he
paid the expenses He has bought the books and now
pays the two teachers although the first year he taught
school himself.
The school has fixed home. Last year it held
its sessions in implanted, frame country church,
which small that fully half of the 125 pupils
were obliged to study under the trees outside The clos
ing day of school big to the residents of
Worth County is the presentation of diplomas
panied by addresses Latin the students of modern
colleges Side by side under the trees boys and girls
mothers and fathers aunts unces, grandparents and
other relatives stand up for an odfashioned spelling
match.
Has it been worth while? John DENLY, veteran of
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