The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1914-07-22
mLITERACY IN KENTUCKY.

IJJTERACY IN KENTUCKY.
Few people are aware Of the wide
prevalence of jlliteracy. especially
in Kentucky. 1t is fact, however
that this is one of the darkest stains
upon the body-politic of our other
wise glorious Commonwealth. Even
of the pretendedly educated people
of the county there are quite Few
who can not sit down and indite a
nice social or business document,
devoid of errors of syntaX, spelling
or punctuation Whether this is the
fault of the schools which they at
tended or innate carelessness, yet II
is a fact. From this average educa-
tional advantage, the grades move
On downward, with varying accom-
pIishments. to the man or woman,
girl or boy, who can neither read
.or write-truly a deplorable stand
in life's status. These benighted
people are more common than you
would imagine.
And who is to blame for this
Gaming disgrace to a proud old
State? The unfortunates them
selves? Not always They are gem
orally creatures of environment and
unfortunate surroundings or teach
ing. They have perhaps never been
impressed with the inestimable val
ne of an educational least COM
prehensive modicum of the same.
Maybe they have been raised to the
lesson that work was of more value
10 them than school attendance. In
some instances the chance for an
education is scant and far away. In
other cases carelessness and utter
uncOncern prevail. In any event the
result is the same and the DOOM
usually as certain; the person in in
terest grows up and mingles with
the populace. bearing the heaviest
handicap that could be placed upon
him in the race for distinction or
advancement in life.
People of education are the ones
who are now filling positions of hon
or and trust in life's struggle, and
they are usually graded according
10 their accomplishments along this
line. In fact, no boy or girl is fitted
10 move rightly along life's avenues
without a schooling that has given
them at least hold upon education
al advancement. This need is vital
and imperative.
According to carefully compiled
statistics, our own Ohio county has
over two thousand people within her
borders who can neither read nor
write. Would you have believed 1t?
And isn't it dark blot upon our be-
loved countys escutcheon? No
doubt you are surprised and dumb
founded and your mind naturally in
quires the remedy for this depress-
ing situation. A movement is now
in hand to give these unfortunate
people chance to retrieve their
lost opportunities Kentucky now
has an Illiteracy Commission with
Headquarters at the new State Cap
ital at Frankfort, whose members
will be glad 10 help in any way TO
relieve this regrettable condition.
This Commission is headed by Mrs.
Cora Wilson Stewart, the noble and
self-sacrificing woman who has done
so much for the educational inter
ests of the State and especially the
unfortunate people whose reason
was broadened and whose ignorance
was turned into wisdom by the light
of her marvellous ministrations. The
Commission solicits correspondence
from all who may take an interest
in the matter or know of individual
cases. Write the Kentucky lllitera-
cy Commission, and let us all join
in this laudable ambition of getting
our beloved State right" before the
world in the matter Of educational
effort and progress.