The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-11-16
STAMPING OUT ILLrTERACY.

STAMPING OUT HLITERACY.
That Is great and enlightening
work that has been inaugurated By
the Woman's Forward Kentucky
Movement which is to reclaim the
iliiterste of the State from Ignorance.
Louisville is TO devote a whole week
10 the campaign. which began yester.
day with sermons on the subject in
all the churches of that city. Igno-
rance is not only the enemy OF all
morals. but is a menace to our nation
al and State institutions. rliteracy
Is the fuel that has fed all the fires
OF feudism in the mountain districts
OF Kentucky. Law has punished the
Participants I'm these bloody vendei.
tas. but II has not suppressed them.
The good women have taken hold Of
the matter and are striking at the
root OF the evsi. the mental darkness
Of the people engaged in them. and
are striving to bring them into the
light and the normal intelligence OF
things. II is a magnificent crusade
against the powers Of darkness. and
is sure to win.
This movement had its inception in
the work done by one noble woman
in Rowan county. where she estab.
lished what was called moonlight
schools" where the old as well as
the illiterate young were taught 10
read and write. The wonderful ac-
complishments of this woman. Mrs.
Cora Wilson Stewart. attracted the
attention OF the State authorities and
resulted in the creation OF the State
llliteracy Commission. and through
her Inspiration the Commission. since
1911. has established 1000 schools in
which there are 100000 pupils. Il is
said that eleven States have adopted
the moonlight school system OF Ken
lucky. and that il has been endorsed
by the highest educational authorities
In the United States. The people OF
the mountain districts OF Kentucky
are not primarily vicious. They have
not remained ignorant through choice.
but simply by neglect Not being
able TO draw the fine distinctions be-
tween right and wrong. they have
Kept on, generation after generation,
In feudal relations with each other.
until sometimes the military OF the
State has been called upon to quelI
their murderous slaughter of one an
other. This is now to be stopped. not
by statute law. but the softening infiu-
ences OF education. or the enlighten.
ment Of the mind through the moon.
light schools. Parts OF mountainous
West Virginia are afflicted in the
same manner as the feud zone Of Ken
lucky and IL would be well for our
state authorities 10 pattern in a meas.
ure after our neighbors activity along
the lines indicated. West Virginia On.
joys the proud distinction Of having
the largest percentage OF native born
population Of any State in the Union.
yet her percentage OF illlteracy is So.
as compared with 121 credited to
Kentucky. The percentage for the en-
tire United States is ~ per cent. OF
the whole poplation. Our standing is
not as creditable as II should be.
Another thing about the Kentucky
movement that Is quite striking and
Impressive Is that the end to be al.
tained Is not merely TO be satisfied
with teaching the ignorant TO write
their names and spell and pronounce
few words. and then classify them
among the "iiterate." One Of the
prime movers Of the Kentucky move
ment has given this Illuminating def
milton OF lIliteracy: III ] can take q
book and gather from II the thoughts
Of the author. can read. n ] can
take pen and with IL express M
thoughts. ! can write. II ! cannot do
these things 7 am an iiliterate' With
such a standard set. and with tho
earnestness Of tho forces now Al work
In Kentucky II viii not be long until
the regeneration OF her unfortunate
ignorant people will be accomplished
and the bloody feuds that have stained
her fair esoutcheon will do 80 no
more