The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-01-09
2 OF 1000 VERMONTERS
ARE ILLITERATE
Proportion Greatly Decreased in Period
From 1900 to 1910 and Vermont
Now is Near the Leading
States.

Illiteracy in the United States is
doomed. Statistics compiled by the
United States bureau of education for
use at the Panama Pacific exposition,
show that of children from 10 to IA
years OF age there were in 1910 only %
out of every 1000 who could neither
read nor write. In 1900 there We're of
the same class AZ per 1000. If reduction
in illiteracy is still proceeding at even
the same rate, the iliteracy children
in this country between the ages OF
10 and A. inclusive, now number no
more than Is out of every LOCO.
From the standpoint of proportional
reduction of illteracy Oklahoms leads
all the states in the union. In 1900 this
state had l24 Observation-Disclosures the ages
named. In 1910 it had but IL; Della
ware had 20 in 1900 and but four in
1910; New Hampshire reduced from
four to one; New Jersey from seven to
two; Missouri from 35 to IL; Montana
from three to one; Oregon from three to
one; Vermont from six to two; New
Mexico from 1872 to go, and Idaho from
five TO two.
The following states report only one
child in 1000 between the ages of 10
and IA as illiterate: Connecticut, Dis
trict of Columbia, Massachusetts,, Min
nesota, Montana, New Hampshire
North Dakota, Oregon, Utah and Massa
chusetts.
Some of the states have reduced their
by one half or a little more.
These states are Arizona, California, Col
orado, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi.
North Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and
West Virginia.
There is only one state, Nevada, has
not lost ground since 1900. It's illitera-
cy was then four; in 1910 it was five. |
Two states, South Dakota and Nebraska, |
each having the low rate of two per 900 |
report on reduction in illiteracy between
1900 and 1910.
The states having the largest proper
lion of illiterate children per ] 900 are |
Louisiana, with ll5 from TIA in l900;) |
South Carolina, SO from $50; Alabama, |
II from 1877 New Mexico. 90 from 1872; |
North Carolina. IS from 167; Kentucky,
70 from 70; Georgia, 81 from 100 and
Virginia. 81 from ~; Tennessee, 81
rom ll9; Florida, 80 from 70; Arkan-
as, AZ from ll3.
1t is evident that the public schools
will in short time practically eliminate
iliteracy among children. But accord
ng to bureau education officials there
ire between four and five millions of
.dults that are illiterates and that can
lot be reached by the public schools. To
wipe out illiteraey in the United States
me of two things must happen: Either
he country must wait for the general
On OF present adults to die Off. or by
ONE extraordinary means reach these
lliterato millions
On the basis OF these figures DR.. p.
ClaXton, commissioner OF education,
stimates that with an average annual
expenditure of $4,000 for 10 years he
ould put forces to work that would by
ieans of night schools and other agen-
les, eliminate illiteracy among the
dults OF this country The Aber-
rombie llliteracy bill, II. r. 1870, now
ending before Congress. requires the
ureau of education TO undertake this =
ork in any state upon request of the
roper state authorities and make an
of $4,000 for 1915, 1922
70 for each succeeding year until 1920:
nd Sl7.500 for each year thereafter un-
! 1925, at which date, it is believed. H.
teracy would be eliminated