The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-11-01
COMMISSION
WORK MEETS APPROVAL


Champ Clark of the national house OF
representations, General Leonard
Wood of the United States army
Stratton ID. Brooks, president of the
university of Oklahoma, David r.
Boyd, president OF the University OF
New Mexico, and formerly president
of the university OF Oklahoma, are
among the prominent men of the coun.
try who have sent encouraging letters
to the members of the illiteracy com.
mission of Oklahoma, whose purpose
is to stamp out illiteracy from the
state.
The letters were received by H. A.
Herod OF Alva, member of the com
mission.
81 wish | knew how to get all the
illiterates In Oklahoma and every
where else to learn to read and write, "
Champ Clark's letter reads. Il of
fered reward of S. to the school dis
trict in Anderson county where | was
born, that would make the greatest
advance in that regard and tlie SUI
perintendent at Frankfort wrote me
not long ago and claimed the reward
for some particular district and | sent
it to them. My own opinion is that
| 70 hnt
man and woman in Oklahoma who
cannot read and write, would soon
learn. 1t wouldn't cost much and
would be great thing for them and
for the country"
General Wood Writes
General Leonard Wood wrote: THE
task you have undertaken, namely,
the eradication of illiteracy in Oklaho-
ma, is we'll worthy of the most serious
efforts of any man or collection of
men. 1t is of vital Importance to
republic even more than any other
form of government that all its peo-
pie should be sufficiently well educat-
ed to read and understand what is
printed concerning the great questions
of the day. 1t is also of vital import
ance that they know something of the
country's history and policy in order
that they may support wise and prop
er legislation looking to our welfare
and to the safeguarding of our inter
ests."
The following was received from
Thos. w. Butcher. president of Kan.
sas State Normal school, Emporia:
Ignorance lies at the base of preju-
dice and intolerance which are real
threats against American institutions.
Not that illiterate men and women are
bad, but the ability to read and write
has in all generations promoted in
diligence, and intelligence is the chief
of American freedom"
David r. Boyd, for sixteen years
president of the university of Oklaho-
ma, but now president of the universi-
y of New Mexico, wrote:
81 am very glad to learn that the |
Oklahoma rural school improvement
commission is undertaking to eradi-
ate illiteracy from the state of Okla
IONA. 1t is appalling that $1,000 H.
iterates in Oklahoma are darkened
rom the light of the English Ian
,uage by illiteracy. 1t is startling to
hink that 2S,000 voters are unable to
cad the ballot they are expected to
'ote, and the danger of the state
rom such an important power WELD
d in ignorance, should give all the
itizens of that state pause. | trust
hat the $1,000 teachers and all the
riends of education will so organize
heir energies as to eliminate entirely
literacy from the great state of Ok
ihOma. AS one who for sixteen years
lbored humbly in the educational
anks of Oklahoma, | join most hearth
= in wishing you God speed, and wish
could do something to help you"
President Stratton ID. Brooks wrote
, Mr.. Herod, as follows:
The time has passed when teach
r may consider her full duty done
fter she has instructed the pupils
ssigned to her care. The best teach
RS recognize that one of their chief
utles is to spread information
the district wherever it
lay be needed. The movement to
Iiminate illiteracy furnished a valua- q
lie opportunity for public service
the greatest importance. The value
, the state and the pleasure of the I
ldiyidual that will come from the
bility to read is scarcely to be esti- !
ated. ] hope that every teacher 8
orthy of obtaining a position will I
i've her strongest effort to carrying s
le campaign to a successful couclu- b
ON