The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-14
FINE PROGRESS IN CAMPAIGN AGAINST
 STATE |LL|TERACY
Feagin Writes Review of What Has Been Done to Chairman Jelks of the
 State Committee

Montgomery, September 13.-(Spe- l cial )-William F. Feagin, state su- | perintendent of education, today ad- dressed a letter to former Gov. William D. Jelks of Birmingham, president of | showing progress the commission has made since it's establishment
 According to Superintendent Feagin. campaigns for the removal of adult illiteracy have been inaugurated in Au- tauga, Barbour, Bibb, Calhoun. Frank lin, Pickens, Randolph, Tuscaloosa and other counties and the progress made in those counties is such "as to leave little doubt that a statewide campaign will be fully inaugurated when our schools open in the fall"
 Following is Superintendent Feagin's letter:
 Dear MT. Jelks: Inasmuch as Mrs. E. D. Thames field agent of the Ala pama 1lliteracy commission, discontin- ued active work on September l, it seems entirely fitting that should give to you at this time statement of the progress of the movement in general terms and along with it a complete financial statement of all receipts and disbursements
 Tn keeping with the plan outlined by the commission, illiteracy day was set apart, proclamation was issued by the governor and subcommissions were appointed for every county in the state. The personnel of these sub- commissions usually included the coun- ty superintendent of education, the principal of the county high school, the president of the county school inn proVemept association, one successful business man and one prominent wom- an. The systematic way in which these subcommissions have gone about the task before them indicates without a doubt that there Is an intelligent com. prehension of the work and a deter mined resolution to perform it for the good or society and the state.
 AS was expected, the actual work or teaching can only be done, for the most part by teachers; and inasmuch as the teachers in a number of coun- ties were away on summer vacations. IL was not thought best to make a be- ginning in such counties for fear that the results might be such as to hinder a countrywide movement in the fall when the teachers were all present. ana Tor that reason I cannot report any decided activity in all the counties of the state
 Enough has been done, however, in a number of counties to convince tlfe most dubious person that the work of the commission is intensely practical meets distinct want and is approved by all those who have had the oppor- tunity to observe it. What is si'
 propitious is the fact that the flliterate persons themselves, grown hoary with age, are glad to have the helping hand Of friends in unlocking to them the treas ures of the printed page. Abundant spec linens now on file in this office show conclusively that adult men and women aa rrl fn turte i,, time under tuition
 Perhaps the most remarkable work Tn the state has been accomplished In the counties of Dale and Shelby. A paln- phlet was issued sometime since con ta1ning the report of a visit of the ruaI school agent. Mr. Hobdy, a copy of which am enclosing herewith.
 "A no less remarka ble account would come from Shelby county were all ths facts made known. A two days confer ence was held at the county site at which time 20 or more volunteer teachers were given instruction about how to pro- ceed in the conduct of adult schools, so that concerted and thoroughly inte- grated effort was put forth throughout the entire county. The letters from teach CTS, from illiterate adults who have been helped in this campaign, from citizens who have had the opportunity to ob- serve what has been done, the numerous photographs by those who have looked in upon the adult schools, convince me be- yond question that those who are doing the work have the true missionary spirit and that their eGorts are being crowned with wonderful success.
 Reports from a number of other coun- ties where actual work is being done. as, for example, Autauga. Barbour, Bibb, Calhoun, Franklin, Pickens, Randolph, Tuscaloosa and 8 few others are such as to leave no doubt that a statewide campaign will be fully inaugurated when our schools open in the fall. Through out an experience of nearly 15 years that I have been actively connected with the state department of education, l have never known any undertaking about which there was such unity of opinion and such generous approval. The wide popularity of the movement has had much to do with the successful school legisa- tion, and certainly has made it possible to finance the undertaking despite the fact that the commission began it's work without cent of funds and with no hope of revenue from the public treasury. Un- der the instruction of the commission last year, l addressed to a number of people throughout the state who, it was thought